Guinea worm infection, also known as dracunculiasis, is a parasitic disease caused by the roundworm Dracunculus medinensis. It is one of the oldest known parasitic infections affecting humans.
The lifecycle of the Guinea worm begins when a person drinks water contaminated with water fleas that harbor the larvae of the parasite. The larvae grow and mature within the stomach of the human host and emerge in the form of long, thread-like worms ranging from 60 to 100 centimeters in length. These worms migrate through the connective tissues, generally towards the lower extremities, causing painful swelling, blisters, and ulcers on the skin. The intense itching experienced by the infected person often leads to accidental immersion of the affected body part in water sources, facilitating the release of larvae and continuing the transmission cycle.
Guinea worm infection causes significant disability, with infected individuals often unable to carry out normal activities, work, or attend school. Furthermore, the infection can lead to secondary bacterial infections, such as cellulitis, tetanus, or sepsis, which can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Prevention and control measures include improving access to safe drinking water, filtering drinking water, promoting behavior change, conducting health education campaigns, and providing effective treatment to infected individuals. The disease is near eradication, with only a few thousand cases reported annually since the launch of the global eradication campaign in 1986 by the World Health Organization.
