People with dragon worms often do not show any special manifestation in the first year so it is difficult to detect, the disease can be fatal due to complications of infection, abscess.
Vietnam has recorded 26 dragon worms since 2020, mainly in the northern mountainous provinces such as Yen Bai (11), Phu Tho (10), Thanh Hoa (2), Hoa Binh (1), Lao Cai (2). Assoc.
Earlier, in 1998, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that our country no longer has this disease. WHO experts warn that this may be a new worm, different from the species that has been encountered in Africa, recommending Vietnam to monitor the disease closely.
Dragon worms (Dracunculus Medinensis) penetrate the body through the gastrointestinal tract when users of water or foods contaminated with larvae from aquatic organisms such as fish, frog, shrimp. All ages are at risk of infection, with the incidence of up to 60%.
The characteristics of adult worms are the body of 70-120 cm long, 1-2 mm wide, containing about three million larvae. Male worms are much smaller, only about 4 cm long and die after mating.
The disease develops silently in the body. The infected person usually does not show any signs in the first year. Then, when the worm moves under the skin, new symptoms appear such as mild fever, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, itching and numbness in the worm area.
In the next stage, the bump broke, yellow secretion with a part of white worms. Without intervention, the worm will escape completely for 3-6 weeks.
Although rarely causes direct death, the disease can lead to dangerous complications such as secondary infection, abscess, arthritis, paralysis of the spinal cord or hemiplegia. These consequences seriously affect the ability of the patient’s learning and labor.
There is currently no special medicine or vaccine to prevent dragon worms. The only treatment is to wait for the worms to come out and take it carefully to avoid broken worms. This process can last from 5-7 days to several months.
Absolutely should not surgery or stretch the worm in the middle. If the worms are broken, millions of larvae will spread into the tissue, causing serious inflammation, blood infection, arthritis or abscess.
In some cases, worms do not escape through the skin but degenerate or move into joints, causing pathology there.
The image of a dragon worm is removed from the body of a patient. Image: Malaria Institute cCunglinus and central parasites provided
Experts recommend to prevent disease, people should ensure food hygiene and safety by eating cooked and boiling; Using separate ripe and ripe food processing tools (cutting boards, knives, blender, bowls, plates …), hygiene after processing raw food. Cooking aquatic foods such as frogs, fish, shrimp …
People who are in the progression of the disease should not bathe, wash in ponds or other domestic water sources to avoid spreading larvae into the environment. Clean wounds, bandage regularly to the sick until removed completely from the body.