Abstract
Dracunculosis, also known as dracontiasis, dracunculiasis, or guinea-worm disease, is one of the oldest known diseases, accounts having been found in Egyptian as well as in early Greek and Roman writings. It has been suggested that the guinea worm was the “fiery serpent” that chased the Israelites during their wanderings around the Red Sea. It is also believed that the physician’s symbol, the caduceus, which has a worm around a stick, may well have originated as a depiction of the guinea worm.
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Selected Readings
After small-pox, guinea worm?, editorial. Lancet 1983; 1:161.
Kale, OO: Clinical evaluation of drugs for dracontiasis. Trop Doct 1977; 7:15.
Muller, R: Dracunculus and dracunculiasis. Ad Parasitol 1971; 9:73.
Muller, R: Guinea worm disease: Epidemiology, control and treatment. Bull WHO; 1979; 57:683.
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© 1984 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
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Pettit, J.H.S., Parish, L.C. (1984). Dracunculosis. In: Manual of Tropical Dermatology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8292-8_25
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8292-8_25
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-8294-2
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