Dracunculiasis

Introduction: Dracunculiasis

Dracunculiasis: Dracunculiasis, more commonly known as Guinea worm disease, is a preventable infection caused by the parasite Dracunculus medinensis. Infection affects poor ... more about Dracunculiasis.

Dracunculiasis: An infectious disease caused by the nematode Dracunculus medinensis which is usually transmitted by drinking water contaminated by infected crustaceans. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Dracunculiasis is available below.

Symptoms of Dracunculiasis

• No early symptoms
• Fever
• Local swelling
• Local pain
• Chronic skin ulcers

See full list of 11 symptoms of Dracunculiasis

Medical Textbooks Online about Dracunculiasis

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Dracunculiasis?

• Misdiagnosis of Dracunculiasis

Causes of Dracunculiasis

Read more about causes of Dracunculiasis.

Videos for Dracunculiasis

Patient Surveys for Dracunculiasis

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Dracunculiasis
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Reseach about Dracunculiasis

Visit our research pages for current research about Dracunculiasis treatments.

Clinical Trials for Dracunculiasis

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Dracunculiasis include:

• Effect of Albendazole Dose on Clearance of Filarial Worms - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - DEC/Albendazole

Read more about Clinical Trials for Dracunculiasis

Statistics for Dracunculiasis

• Medical statistics for Dracunculiasis
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Dracunculiasis
• Death and Mortality statistics for Dracunculiasis
• Society statistics for Dracunculiasis

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Dracunculiasis, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Dracunculiasis

Dracunculiasis: DPD (Excerpt)

Dracunculiasis, more commonly known as Guinea worm disease, is a preventable infection caused by the parasite Dracunculus medinensis. Infection affects poor communities in remote parts of Africa that do not have safe water to drink.  (Source: excerpt from Dracunculiasis: DPD)

Facts About Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease): CDC-OC (Excerpt)

Dracunculiasis (dra-KUNK-you-LIE-uh-sis), more commonly called Guinea worm disease, is a parasitic infection caused by Dracunculus medinensis (a long, thin worm). Infection is seen when the adult worm emerges through the skin of an infected person. Worms grow up to 3 feet long and are as wide as a paper clip wire. (Source: excerpt from Facts About Dracunculiasis (Guinea Worm Disease): CDC-OC)

Definitions of Dracunculiasis:

Infection with nematodes of the genus DRACUNCULUS. One or more worms may be seen at a time, with the legs and feet being the most commonly infected areas. Symptoms include pruritus, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or asthmatic attacks. - (Source - Diseases Database)

A painful and debilitating infestation contracted by drinking stagnant water contaminated with Guinea worm larvae that can mature inside a human's abdomen until the worm emerges through a painful blister in the person's skin - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Dracunculiasis as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet