Metronidazole in Dracunculiasis

Abstract
Metronidazole (Flagyl®) was used to treat 25 patients infected with Dracunculus medinensis; the dosage was 200 mg three times daily for 7 days. The treatment was remarkably effective, apparently killing the worms within a few days. Signs and symptoms of infection began to subside, and in seven patients local lesions healed, during the treatment period. Dead guinea worms were extruded or extracted easily from 18 patients. In seven patients the worms remained in the tissues, but this did not delay much the healing of local lesions nor the relief of symptoms. Side-effects of treatment (nausea, anorexia, and a metallic taste) were mild, did not require interruption of treatment, and disappeared soon after treatment stopped.

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