eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: General Medicine > Parasitology
Dracunculiasis: Differential Diagnoses & Workup
Updated: Aug 22, 2006
- Overview
- Differential Diagnoses & Workup
- Treatment & Medication
- Follow-up
Differential Diagnoses
Other Problems to Be Considered
Onchocerciasis
Workup
Laboratory Studies
- CBC count with differential
- The WBC count is likely elevated, even if only slightly.
- The differential commonly indicates eosinophilia.
- Serum immunoglobulin levels
- Immunoglobulin E (IgE), immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1), and immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels are usually elevated, with variability depending on the stage of disease.
- Patent infections (immediately following blister eruption but before ulcer formation) cause the greatest elevation of the 2 IgG subclasses, whereas both are relatively less elevated with postpatent (ulcerated) or prepatent (blister in formative stage) infections.
Imaging Studies
- A radiologic examination (plain-film roentgenography) of the lower extremity may prove useful in the identification of calcified worms in the rare case when surgery is considered. Incidental identification of calcified lesions from dracunculiasis has also been reported after radiographic evaluation of a painful lower extremity.
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| Overview: Dracunculiasis |
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Dracunculiasis |
| Treatment & Medication: Dracunculiasis |
| Follow-up: Dracunculiasis |
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References
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Bimi L, Freeman AR, Eberhard ML, et al. Differentiating Dracunculus medinensis from D. insignis, by the sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene. Ann Trop Med Parasitol. Jul 2005;99(5):511-7. [Medline].
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Hunter JM. An introduction to guinea worm on the eve of its departure: dracunculiasis transmission, health effects, ecology and control. Soc Sci Med. Nov 1996;43(9):1399-425. [Medline].
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MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Imported dracunculiasis--United States, 1995 and 1997. Mar 27 1998;47(11):209-11. [Medline].
Menon T. Incidental finding of Dracunculus medinensis in Australia. Med J Aust. Jul 4 2005;183(1):51-2. [Medline].
Muller R. Guinea worm disease--the final chapter?. Trends Parasitol. Nov 2005;21(11):521-4. [Medline].
Sam-Abbenyi A, Dama M, Graham S, Obate Z. Dracunculiasis in Cameroon at the threshold of elimination. Int J Epidemiol. Feb 1999;28(1):163-8. [Medline].
WHO. Dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) eradication. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. Apr 16 2004;79(16):154-5. [Medline].
Further Reading
Keywords
dracunculiasis, dracontiasis, dracunculosis, guinea worm infection, Dracunculus medinensis, D medinensis, guinea fire worm, Medina worm, serpent worm, dragon worm
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Dracunculiasis