Once in the human, the juvenile worms migrate from the intestinal tract, through the abdominal cavity, and into the subcutaneous connective tissues. At this point the females are fertilized by the males, and the males die. The females then migrate to the skin, reach sexual maturity, and produce juveniles. In the human host, complete development of the parasite requires about one year. Click here to view the complete life cycle .
Serious complications can result from from dracunculiasis.
The sores produced by the female worms can be infected with bacteria, resulting in abscesses in some instances. Some worms may not find their way to the skin and become encapsulated in the tissues, and in those instances where worms are found near joints, chronic arthritis results. There is no immunity to infection, so humans living in areas with endemic dracunculiasis are reinfected continually, and this can result in physically disabling disease. Several drugs are used to treat dracunculiasis, but most infections are treated by simply removing the female worm once the blister breaks open and she is visible. Typically, the female worm is attached to a small stick and removed by slowly winding the worm on to the stick.