Guinea Worm Disease in Medieval Islamic Medicine: 'Irq al-Madanī and Early Insights into a Public Health Challenge.

Objective: Guinea worm disease, a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Materials and Methods: Relevant sections from the works of prominent medieval Islamic physicians, including Thābit b. Qurra, Abū Bakr Muḥammad b. Zakariyyā' al-Rāzī, 'Alī b. al-'Abbās al-Majūsī, Abū l-Qāsim Khalaf b. 'Abbās al-Zahrāwī, Abū 'Alī Ibn Sīnā, and Abū Marwān 'Abd al-Malik b. Zuhr, were examined to analyze how "'Irq al-Madanī" was described, diagnosed, and treated. The findings were compared with one another and with contemporary medical knowledge and literature on Guinea worm disease. Results: The analysis highlights overlapping, complementary, and divergent perspectives on the disease's etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment, all situated within the framework of humoral pathology. In addition to the use of medicinal substances, surgical intervention was also documented as part of therapeutic practice. Conclusion: Insights from the examined medieval Islamic texts largely align with earlier knowledge about the disease. Although some observations and findings correspond with contemporary approaches, key differences emerge, particularly in the conceptualization and interpretation of the disease.