Guinea Worm Disease

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Guinea worm disease is a debilitating and painful infection caused by a large nematode (roundworm), Dracunculus medinensis. It begins with a blister, usually on the leg. Around the time of its eruption, the person may experience itching, fever, swelling and burning sensations. Infected persons try to relieve the pain by immersing the infected part in water, usually open water sources such as ponds and shallow wells. This stimulates the worm to emerge and release thousands of larvae into the water. The larva is ingested by a water flea (cyclops), where it develops and becomes infective in two weeks. When a person drinks the water, the cyclops is dissolved by the acidity of the stomach, and the larva is activated and penetrates the gut wall. It develops and migrates through the subcutaneous tissue. After about one year, a blister forms and the mature worm, 1m long, tries to emerge, thus repeating the life cycle.

Symptoms

Usually it is difficult to suspect Guinea worm disease in the initial months, thus the symptoms will also appear about one year after a person become infected. Just after a few hours or day before the worm comes out, the infected person might suffer from fever, swelling, and pain in the area. While in maximum cases, 90% of the worms come out of the legs and feet, hence pain is common in these body parts. Other symptoms can include:

  • Itchy rash
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Vomiting

Blisters can also occur anywhere on the skin and it gets bigger over several days, resulting into a burning pain. In addition, removing the worm is a daunting task. Besides being painful, it can also cause greater infection without proper care. Wound infections can be followed by some complications like:

  • Generalized infection (sepsis)
  • Joint infections (septic arthritis)
  • Redness and swelling of the skin (cellulitis)
  • Boils (abscesses)
  • Lock jaw (tetanus)

Natural Treatments

So far, there is no drug treatment for the Guinea worm disease. Also, there is no vaccine to prevent the infection. Hence, once part of the worm starts emerging out of the wound, the solution is to pull out the rest of the worm each day, fetching a few centimeters winding it around a piece of gauze or you can use a clean stick. In several cases, the whole worm can be pulled out just in few days, but usually it could take up to weeks. The only reason you can use medicines is for reducing the pain and swelling. You can go for any, aspirin or ibuprofen. Also, antibiotic ointment can help prevent secondary bacterial infections. Some herbal remedies have properties that are destructive to parasites such as roundworm. While many of these herbal remedies have been used traditionally by certain cultures, few have been scientifically tested for their safety and effectiveness. These herbal remedies include:

  • Fig (Ficus glabrata) : Studies of individuals with roundworm infections, including ascariasis, threadworm, whipworm, and hookworm, have suggested that daily doses of Ficus glabrata (an extract from a species of fig tree) may reduce roundworm egg production by up to 85 percent.
  • Andrographis root (Andrographis paniculata) : Animal studies indicate that this herb may reduce the presence of Wucheria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, or Brugia timori (lymphatic filariasis infections) by 84% to 93% in infected dogs. The safety and effectiveness of this herb has yet to be investigated in humans, however.
  • Garlic (Allium sativum) : Laboratory studies suggest that large quantities of fresh, raw garlic may have antiparasitic properties against the roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides; this herbal remedy has not yet been tested clinically in humans.
  • Wormseed (Chenopodium ambrosioides) : Although wormseed has not gone through rigorous scientific testing, this herb is used throughout the world as an effective antiparasitic agent against hookworm and whipworm.
  • Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) : Various species of wormwood are reported to have antiparasitic properties and have been used traditionally to treat parasites. The safety and efficacy of this herb, however, has not been established in clinical trials.
  • Turmeric (Curcuma longa) : Laboratory studies suggest that curcuminoids, the active components of turmeric, may work together with wormwood to reduce the destructive activity of parasites. Clinical trials with humans are warranted.
  • Rangoon creeper (Quisqualis indica). The seeds of this tropical vine are frequently used throughout Southeast Asia for treating infections associated with roundworms, particularly ascariasis and pinworm. Results of clinical studies suggest that this herb may eliminate between 30% and 86% of roundworms in infected individuals.
  • Elecampane is a traditional remedy for worms; the constituent alantolactone has been used as an anthelmintic in the treatment of roundworm, threadworm, hookworm and whipworm infestation.
  • Tansy is used for killing roundworm or threadworm in children.
  • Qian Niu Zi is used for tapeworm or roundworm infestation
  • Winged Prickly Ash : The powdered seeds are eaten to rid the body of roundworm.
  • Artemisia Herba-alba : Parasitic infections such as roundworms, pinworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and flukes. There is some evidence that taking an Artemisia herba-alba water extract might reduce symptoms and cure pinworm infections in adults and children after 3 days of treatment.* Chuan Lian Zi kills parasites and stops pain : Roundworms and tapeworms, Primarily used for abdominal pain associated with parasit
  • Ginger is also recommended for fighting parasites such as the roundworm and the blood fluke.
  • Other herbs with a substantial history of treating roundworms include pumpkin seeds and husks (Curcubita pepo), Punica granatum (Pomegranate bark), and quassia (Picraena excelsa). The clinical safety and effectiveness of these herbs have not been scientifically studied, however.
  • Traditional Chinese Medicine : One randomized, controlled study of 92 individuals infected with the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides demonstrated that people treated with acupuncture combined with traditional Chinese herbs had significantly greater improvement in symptoms compared with people who were treated with conventional medication.
  • Vitamin A : Some studies have suggested that vitamin A deficiency may be associated with roundworm infection. Parasites may deplete stores of vitamin A, leaving the infected individual with inadequate levels to fight off infection. Parasites may also impair an individual's ability to absorb fat, thereby interfering with the intestinal absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A. At this time, however, there is not enough scientific evidence to suggest that vitamin A supplementation is effective at preventing or treating malnutrition associated with roundworm infection.
  • Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) : Animal studies have suggested that vitamin B6-deficient rats recover from trichinosis significantly slower than rats with normal vitamin B6 status. No studies have investigated whether vitamin B6 is effective at preventing or treating roundworm infection in humans, however.

Warnings

Guinea worm is a serious medical concern. If you believe you have contracted guinea worm, prompt medical treatment is vital to your wellbeing. If you notice any symptoms of guinea worm infection, seek medical help immediately.[8] Fever, swelling, and pain near the infected area are usually the first signs of an infection. You will not have symptoms for about a year after becoming infected. If you traveled to an area where guinea worm is a problem, do not assume symptoms you have months later are not related to guinea worm.

References

http://www.drrajkumarsharma.com/drgaurav/GUINEA%20WORM%20DISEASE.htm