Whereas he found a solution for his fears in the form of a tea strainer, I preferred shoes as my best defense against the tiny creatures that might want to call my body home. As the truck rolled relentlessly onward though Cameroon and Central African Republic, I had ample time to examine the truck's library. My attention was drawn toward what parasitic wildlife might be concealed by the dense vegetation. Nobody will ever believe me unless I quote a published expert so here are some dazzling bits of medical minutiae from Traveler's Health - How to Stay Healthy Abroad by Dr. Richard Dawood. These larvae wander around aimlessly under the skin for several months.
Infection is acquired by swallowing infective eggs, often on vegetables.
Eggs are passed in the stools of infected persons, especially children, and need to mature in suitable soil before they become infective. It usually causes surprisingly little disturbance to its host, who may be unaware of its presence until segments are discovered in the stools, or even wriggle out of the anus. The female worm is 60-100 cm long and 2 mm in diameter. It travels under the skin and usually appears in the legs. The female worm reaches maturity about one year after initial infection, and secretes chemicals that cause ulceration of the overlying skin in the region of the creature's head.