Korean J Gastrointest Endosc.  2003 Sep;27(3):158-161.

Four Cases of Trichuris Trichiura Infection in the Colon

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Maryknoll Hospital, Busan, Korea. drhwpark@hananet.net
  • 2Department of Pathology, Maryknoll Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Abstract

Trichuris trichiura (whipworm) is a ubiquitous parasite that resides in the human intestinal tract, and it is known as whipworm because of its whip-like appearance. Trichuriasis is rare in developed countries, but it is more prevalent in tropical countries and areas with suboptimal sanitation. In most patient, whipworm infection is asymtomatic but patient with heavy infection present with anemia, diarrhea, trichuris dysentery syndrome, abdominal pain, weight loss, appendicitis and rectal prolapse. It is characterized by the invasion of the colonic mucosa by the adult Trichuris and produces minor inflammatory changes at the sites of localization. Its diagnosis is usually made by identification of football-shaped eggs in the stool or by confirming adult whipworm during colonoscopy. We report four cases of whipworm infection that were incidentally diagnosed on colonoscopy.

Keyword

Trichuris trichiura; Colonoscopy

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Adult
Anemia
Appendicitis
Colon*
Colonoscopy
Developed Countries
Diagnosis
Diarrhea
Dysentery
Eggs
Humans
Mucous Membrane
Ovum
Parasites
Rectal Prolapse
Sanitation
Trichuriasis
Trichuris*
Weight Loss
Full Text Links
  • KJGE
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr