An outbreak of dracunculiasis in a peri-urban community of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

An outbreak of dracunculiasis was investigated at Egbejila, a peri-urban community near the city of Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, Nigeria. Of 589 persons examined in June 1983, 265 (45.0%) had active ulcers with protruding guinea worms. The infection rates among males (42.1%) and females (47.8%) were not statistically different (p greater than 0.1) but children below 10 years of age were significantly less infected than the older subjects (p less than 0.001). Altogether, 67.2% of the infected subjects had more than one guinea worm lesion while 54.7% were incapacitated by the infection. The peculiar circumstances which led to the spontaneous outbreak of dracunculiasis and contributed to its severity in this community after the construction of the Asa Dam to solve the problem of acute water scarcity in the Ilorin municipality, were identified and discussed.