What does the Guinea worm do to you?

People do not usually have symptoms until about one year after they become infected. A few days to hours before the worm comes out of the skin, the person may develop a fever, swelling, and pain in the area. More than 90\% of worms come out of the legs and feet, but worms can appear on other body parts, too.

Why is Guinea worm a problem?

Guinea worm disease, a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is caused by the parasite Dracunculus medinensis. The disease affects poor communities in remote parts of Africa that do not have safe water to drink. There is neither a drug treatment for Guinea worm disease nor a vaccine to prevent it.

How do you get rid of Guinea worm?

Treatment involves removing the worm manually by a healthcare professional. When a part of the worm begins to emerge out of the wound, a stick is placed around the wound. The worm is carefully pulled out only a few centimeters each day by winding it around the stick.

How do dogs get Guinea?

Currently, Guinea worm disease is considered a zoonosis, with dogs being the main reservoir, reaching high rates of infection, thus jeopardizing its eradication. An alternative route of foodborne parasite transmission has been suggested for dogs by means of the ingestion of infected frogs and/or fish.

Are guinea worms in the US?

The North American guinea worms are nematodes found in numerous furbearing species in the U.S. and Canada. Two species of worms, Dracunculus insignis and D. lutrae, are recognized under this common name. The slender worms reside in the subcutaneous spaces of the legs, resulting in ulcerations in these affected areas.

Can you feel worms under your skin?

Sometimes adult worms can be seen moving under the skin. High numbers of blood cells called eosinophils are sometimes found on blood counts. Some people who are infected for many years may develop kidney damage though development of permanent kidney damage is not common.

Why does guinea worm still exist?

During this time, the open wound can become infected with bacteria, leading to death in around 1\% of cases. Previously affecting millions of people across Africa, India, and the Middle East, Guinea worm is now nearly eradicated, with just 27 cases documented in 2020….

Dracunculiasis
Deaths	~1\% of cases

Is there a vaccine for guinea worm?

Prevention. No vaccine exists against Guinea worm, but the disease can be completely prevented by ensuring safe drinking water and not allowing the adult worms to disperse their larvae.

Can you get guinea worm in the United States?

Can dogs get guinea worm disease?

Guinea worm is now being found in dogs. Guinea worm infections in dogs were first identified in Chad a couple years ago (Eberhard et al, Am J Trop Med Hyg 2014), and the numbers seem to be increasing.

Where does the Guinea worm live?

The guinea worm, a parasite of humans, is found in tropical regions of Asia and Africa and in the West Indies and tropical South America.