When the adult female migrates to superficial cutaneous tissues some symptoms become evident due to the release of toxic substances. These symptoms continue until the blister is formed and has broken and toxic fluids contained in the blister have drained away. However, the opening can become infected by bacteria and this infection can extend into the tunnel occupied by the adult female. Management Avoid drinking water containing copepods. Filtering water, or treatment of water with chlorine will remove or kill the intermediate host.
Boiling water kills the intermediate host.
Bathing and wading in drinking water should be avoided. Individuals with infections may have the worms extracted mechanically when the adult worms are near the surface of the skin. Drugs are available that will kill the developing worms in the definitive host. In 1947 it was estimated that there were 48 million human infections by the Guinea Worm. Fifteen million of these were in Africa and 30 million in Asia.