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Dracunculiasis
Dracunculiasis is a waterborne parasitic infection caused by Dracunculus medinensis, characterized by delayed cutaneous worm emergence and associated local inflammation. Management is non-pharmacologic, and the disease is now rare due to global eradication efforts, with no active interventional trials
Prevalence
Uknown
N/A
US Estimated
N/A
Europe Estimated
Age of Onset
All ages
ICD-10
B72
Inheritance Pattern
Autosomal dominant
Autosomal recessive
Mitochondrial/Multigenic
X-linked dominant
X-linked recessive
5 Facts you should know
FACT
Dracunculiasis, also called Guinea-worm disease (GWD), is a parasitic infection by the Guinea worm
FACT
Initially there are no symptoms - about one year later, the female worm forms a painful blister in the skin, usually on a lower limb
FACT
The name dracunculiasis is derived from the Latin meaning "affliction with little dragons"
FACT
Other Dracunculus species are known to infect various mammals, but do not appear to infect humans
FACT
Dogs may also become infected
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