Guinea Worm Disease Quiz

Life Cycle of Guinea Worm

• The life cycle of guinea worm starts with a person drinking water contaminated with infected water fleas (Cyclops).
• Gastric juices in the human stomach kill the water fleas, freeing the larvae to migrate to the abdominal tissues.
• The larvae then grow and mature, with males dying after mating.
• Fertilized females travel to other tissues, often migrating along bones or tunneling through tissues, usually to the legs.

Maturation and Emergence

• After about a year, the adult worm (up to 1m or 3.3 feet in length) bores through subcutaneous tissues to emerge from a blister.
• The emergence of the worm usually occurs in response to the infected person bathing in water to relieve the burning pain caused by the worm.
• Once in the water, the worm sheds thousands of larvae, which are then eaten by water fleas within two weeks.

Infection and Symptoms

• Humans become infected by ingesting water contaminated with infected water fleas.
• Symptoms of infection include fever, pain, and swelling in affected areas, followed by the emergence of the worm from a blister.
• The blister is a sign that the worm will emerge, and its emergence causes extreme pain.

Treatment and Prevention

• There is no specific treatment for guinea worm disease; the only cure is removal of the worm in its entirety.
• The worm can be encouraged to emerge by soaking the affected area in a container of water.
• Prevention involves avoiding contaminated water and educating people about the risks of guinea worm infection.

History and Epidemiology

• Guinea worm disease, also known as dracunculiasis, is an ancient disease associated with "burning pan."
• Historically, millions of people were affected, mainly in the Middle East, India, and Africa, but it is now relatively rare, limited to a handful of African countries.
• Death from guinea worm disease is infrequent, but it can cause significant disability and lost productivity.