Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Trichuriasis / Whipworm Infection ( Trichuris trichiura)

1/27/2024

Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - Trichuriasis / Whipworm Infection ( Trichuris trichiura)
Whipworm infection, also known as trichuriasis
The Trichuris trichiura is a nematode, also known as a roundworm. The term "whipworm" is also used.
Adult worms have an anterior end that resembles a thread and is embedded in the mucosa of the large intestine when they are fully mature.

Ingestion of eggs that have been infected with human excrement is the means by which the disease is transmitted. Every day, adult females generate between three thousand and ten thousand eggs, which are then expelled through the feces. The incubation period of at least ten days in the soil is required for them to become infectious. There are regions in the rural southeast of the United States that are affected by the parasite, which has a global spread. Utilizing human feces as a fertilizer is a factor that promotes to the spread of infection.
Depending on the magnitude of the worm infestation, clinical symptoms can differ. It is common for minor loads to be asymptomatic. The presence of greater worm loads is associated with the development of symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, tenesmus, rectal prolapse, anemia, and eosinophilia, in addition to a loss of nutritional supplements and weight. The loss of a substantial amount of blood is possible in severe situations.

After the eggs have been consumed, the larvae will hatch in the small intestine and then be transported to the colon, where they will eventually develop into adults. On the colon, the adult forms adhere themselves, which results in local ulceration. They have a lifespan of four to eight years.

On direct examination of the feces used for diagnosis or through the application of concentration techniques, one can discover eggs that have the distinctive shape of a barrel and have a plug on each end.

Mebendazole or albendazole are both potential treatments for the condition. Proper disposal of human feces and maintaining a high level of personal hygiene are also essential components of prevention techniques.