What is Whipworm?

What is Whipworm?

• Whipworm: Any nematode of the genus trichuris.
• Whipworm: Infection with nematodes of the genus TRICHURIS, formerly called Trichocephalus.
  Source - Diseases Database

Name and Aliases of Whipworm

Main name of condition: Whipworm

Trichuris trichiura [the whipworm that causes trichuriasis.], trichuriasis, Trichuris infection

Trichocephalus trichiura, Trichuris trichiura, Trichuriasis Source - Diseases Database

Types of Whipworm:

Parent types of Whipworm: Worm conditions, Roundworm

How many people get Whipworm?

Prevalance of Whipworm: These infections are cosmopolitan, but ascariasis is more common in North America and trichuriasis in Europe. Relative infection rates on other continents are not available. (Source: FDA Bad Bug Book)

Who gets Whipworm?

Patient Profile for Whipworm: Mostly children though any age possible.
Profile for Whipworm: Although the incidence of whipworm infection is high, its intensity is usually light. In the United States, the infection occurs principally in warm, moist climates, most frequently among children. People can get infected by accidentally eating whipworm eggs on their hands or in food or drink. Severe infections in young children can result in serious disease with bloody diarrhea and a condition called rectal prolapse. (Source: excerpt from Parasitic Roundworm Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

How serious is Whipworm?

Complications of Whipworm: see complications of Whipworm

What causes Whipworm?

Causes of Whipworm: The eggs of these worms are found in insufficiently treated sewage-fertilizer and in soils where they embryonate (i.e., larvae develop in fertilized eggs). The eggs may contaminate crops grown in soil or fertilized with sewage that has received nonlethal treatment; humans are infected when such produce is consumed raw. Infected foodhandlers may contaminate a wide variety of foods. (Source: FDA Bad Bug Book)
Class of Condition for Whipworm: parasite worm
Causes of Whipworm: see causes of Whipworm

What are the symptoms of Whipworm?

Incubation period for Whipworm: about 2 to 3 weeks for eggs to hatch; longer before symptoms.

How is it treated?

Treatments for Whipworm: see treatments for Whipworm
Research for Whipworm: see research for Whipworm

Society issues for Whipworm

Hospitalization statistics for Whipworm: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Whipworm:

• 0% (6) of hospital consultant episodes were for trichuriasis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 67% of hospital consultant episodes for trichuriasis required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 33% of hospital consultant episodes for trichuriasis were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 67% of hospital consultant episodes for trichuriasis were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 50% of hospital consultant episodes for trichuriasis required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 38 days was the mean length of stay in hospitals for trichuriasis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 38 days was the median length of stay in hospitals for trichuriasis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 57 was the mean age of patients hospitalised for trichuriasis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 83% of hospital consultant episodes for trichuriasis occurred in 15-59 year olds in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 17% of hospital consultant episodes for trichuriasis occurred in people over 75 in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 33% of hospital consultant episodes for trichuriasis were single day episodes in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 0.0001% (38) of hospital bed days were for trichuriasis in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)