Friday, February, 10, 2012

Whipworm infection

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Trichuriasis


Symptoms

Symptoms range from mild to severe. Sometimes, there are no symptoms. A severe infection may cause:

  • Bloody diarrhea
  • Iron-deficiency anemia
  • Fecal incontinence (during sleep)
  • Rectal prolapse

Signs and tests

A stool ova and parasites exam reveals the presence of whipworm eggs.


Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)