So many of you have seen my Guinea Worm pictures and some of you have asked questions so now I am going to try an answer your questions.
What is Guinea Worm? Guinea worm disease is a parasitic worm. It is also called dracunculiasis [dra-KUNK-you-LIE-uh-sis].
People get infected when they drink standing water containing a tiny water flea called the CYCLOPS that is infected with the even tinier larvae of the Guinea worm.
Inside the human body, the larvae mature, growing as long as 3 feet. After a year (10 to 14 mons.), the worm emerges through a painful blister in the skin, causing long-term suffering and sometimes crippling after-effects.
Infection can be avoided, even in areas where the disease is very common.People with an open Guinea worm wound should not enter ponds, dams or wells used for drinking water.
Ways to avoid Guinea Worm: Filtering is the best way to eradicate Guinea Worm. Some people filter the water with their shirt, cloth or cloth filters that proviated. Some villages/towns have dam guards to help remind people to filter water. There are other ways such as boiling water, filtering the water with your shirt, or drinking from the pipe filters, which are given to farmers to wear around the neck.
Removing the worm can take up to a day, weeks, and months....Sometimes the worm is wrapped around a muscle, tendon, ligaments,which can cause a great amount of pain while removing the worm.
Control Emergen (CE): Once the worm starts to come out and awares the Guinea Worm Volunteer control emergern should take place. CE is when you soak the foot or other party part in a bucket of water. This controls the worm to spit out her water in a "safe" place and then the pulling of the worm begins.
Treatment: there is no cure for Guinea Worm.The only treatment is to remove the worm over many weeks by winding it around a small stick and pulling it out a tiny bit at a time.
Complications:During the time that the worm is emerging and being removed, the affected person suffers intense pain and often cannot work or resume daily activities for months. Farmers cannot tend their crops, parents cannot care for children, and children miss school. Even after the worms are gone, people are often left with scarring and permanent crippling.
I hope this answered questions!! Peace and LOVE!
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