35 Whip Worm

Trichuris trichiura

35.1 Life Cycle

Worm has to leave body into the soil, for a month (probably as lower temperature)

Worms mature in intestine.

Head sticks into GI mucosa

This is an anthyoponosis

Tropical

Poor sanitation

Warm weather

Primarily paediatric

Illness severity correlates with worm burden

Mod Infection: GI syndrome

Heavy Infection (>800 worms):

Dysentry (bloody inflammatory diarrhoea) syndrome with growth stunting. Also associated with anaemia.
Rectal Prolapse - due to tenesmus

They do present some antigens to GALT, so then you do get a mild eosinophila

Vaccine seams unlikely

What about immunomodulation

Find the eggs

Find the worms on colonoscopy (accidentally)

Difference between the drugs is mebendazole is not absorbed across the gut.

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