Pleural effusion due to dracunculus infection: a rare case in vietnam.

Abstract

Guinea worm, scientific name is Dracunculus medinensis, is a rare parasite that causes disease in humans. People are infected with worms by drinking water containing cyclops carrying the larvae of Dracunculus medinensis. The cyclops dies after consumption, and the released larvae grow into adult worms by entering the host's digestive system. The female worms, which often live in the epidermis and subcutaneous tissue of the legs, arms, or shoulders, develop a painful and itchy blister after 9-14 months of incubation. We provide a clinical case of a male patient who had pleural effusion from a Dracunculus medinensis infection. There isn't a particular therapy for this parasite at the moment. Treatment includes drugs to kill other co-infecting parasites and manual removal of Dracunculus medinensis from the nests.