- Provision of safe drinking water (e.g. piped water, installation of hand pumps).
- Control of Cyclops.
- Educating people to use double thickness cotton cloth for sieving drinking water.
- Prevention of water contamination by infected persons.
- Surveillance: Active search for new cases.
Diagnosis of Guinea Worm Disease
Guinea worm Diagnosis is usually made by clinical examination of patient seeing the adult worm protruding from a skin sore
- In suspected cases – especially in endemic areas person showing boil/blister on leg.
- Confirmation by examination of protruding Guinea worm from skin lesions.
Treatment of Guinea Worm Disease
The only Guinea worm treatment is to remove the worm over many weeks by winding it around small stick and pulling it out a tiny bit at a time. Sometimes the worm can be pulled out completely within a few days, but the process usually takes weeks or months. No medication or vaccine is available to prevent infection. However, the worm can be surgically removed before the wound begins to swell. Antihistamines and antibiotics can reduce swelling and ease removal of the worm.
