DRACUNCULUS Meaning and
Definition
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Dracunculus is a noun that refers to a genus of parasitic nematode worms of the family Dracunculidae. These worms are commonly known as Guinea worms or fiery serpents due to the symptoms they cause in their human hosts. The name "dracunculus" can be traced back to the Latin word "dracō," which means dragon or serpent.
Dracunculus worms are transmitted through the consumption of water contaminated with their larvae. Once inside the host's body, the larvae mature and develop into adult worms, which can grow up to several feet in length. The most notable characteristic of the dracunculus worm is its ability to cause a painful condition known as dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease.
Dracunculiasis primarily affects impoverished communities in certain regions of Africa and Asia, where access to clean drinking water is limited. Infected individuals may experience a range of symptoms, including a burning sensation, itching, and the emergence of blisters, typically on the lower limbs. The worms eventually emerge through the blisters—usually when exposed to water—causing intense pain and increasing the risk of secondary infections.
Efforts have been made to control and eradicate dracunculiasis, primarily through education campaigns promoting safe drinking water practices, filter usage, and water treatment methods. The World Health Organization has been actively involved in this endeavor, leading to a significant decline in the number of reported cases in recent years.
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A genus of Nematoda, formerly included in Filaria.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for DRACUNCULUS
- sracunculus
- xracunculus
- cracunculus
- fracunculus
- rracunculus
- eracunculus
- deacunculus
- ddacunculus
- dfacunculus
- dtacunculus
- d5acunculus
- d4acunculus
- drzcunculus
- drscunculus
- drwcunculus
- drqcunculus
- draxunculus
- dravunculus
- drafunculus
Etymology of DRACUNCULUS
The word "dracunculus" is derived from Latin. It is a diminutive form of the Latin word "draco", meaning "dragon" or "serpent". The suffix "-unculus" is a diminutive suffix in Latin, which adds a sense of smallness or endearment. Thus, "dracunculus" can be translated as "little dragon" or "small serpent". The term is often used to refer to a genus of parasitic worms known as the guinea worm or the fiery serpent, due to the painful burning sensation it causes when it emerges from the skin.
Similar spelling words for DRACUNCULUS
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