Whipworm (Trichuris)

Epidemiology/lifecycle

  • Faecal oral: ingest eggs, larvae hatch in GIT, release eggs

Clinical

  • Majority asymptomatic

  • Co-infection with ascaris and hookworm is common, and more likely to cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea/dysentery, tenesmus, rectal prolapse.

  • In children: failure to thrive, growth retardation, anaemia

Diagnosis

  • Faecal OCP (trichuris)

Treatment

  • Albendazole or mebendazole

Prevention

  • Sanitation