Guinea Worm Disease

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.

• 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.
• 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.

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.