Dracunculiasis
Today's TMI word is "dracunculiasis." From Wikipedia:
Dracunculiasis (pronounced /drəˌkʌŋkjəˈlaɪ.əsɪs/), also called guinea worm disease, is a parasitic infection caused by Dracunculus medinensis, a long and very thin nematode (roundworm). The infection begins when a person drinks stagnant water contaminated with copepods infested by the larvae of the guinea worm. Approximately one year later, the disease presents with a painful, burning sensation as the worm forms a blister, usually on the lower limb. Once prevalent in 20 nations in Asia and Africa, the disease remains endemic in only four countries in Africa....
Treatment
There is no vaccine or medicine to treat or prevent Guinea worm disease. Once a Guinea worm begins emerging, a person must wrap the live worm around a piece of gauze or a stick to extract it from the body (a long, painful process which usually takes weeks or months).... Some people have said that extracting a Guinea worm feels like the afflicted area is on fire. However, if the infection is identified before an ulcer forms, the worm can also be surgically removed by a trained doctor in a medical facility.
And now, the pictures! Link to Google search because I'm lazy.
Dracunculiasis (pronounced /drəˌkʌŋkjəˈlaɪ.əsɪs/), also called guinea worm disease, is a parasitic infection caused by Dracunculus medinensis, a long and very thin nematode (roundworm). The infection begins when a person drinks stagnant water contaminated with copepods infested by the larvae of the guinea worm. Approximately one year later, the disease presents with a painful, burning sensation as the worm forms a blister, usually on the lower limb. Once prevalent in 20 nations in Asia and Africa, the disease remains endemic in only four countries in Africa....
Treatment
There is no vaccine or medicine to treat or prevent Guinea worm disease. Once a Guinea worm begins emerging, a person must wrap the live worm around a piece of gauze or a stick to extract it from the body (a long, painful process which usually takes weeks or months).... Some people have said that extracting a Guinea worm feels like the afflicted area is on fire. However, if the infection is identified before an ulcer forms, the worm can also be surgically removed by a trained doctor in a medical facility.
And now, the pictures! Link to Google search because I'm lazy.