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Whipworm: Follow-Up

Authors: Robert W. Tolan, Jr, MDAuthor Information and Disclosures

Follow-Up

Further Outpatient Care:

  • Retreatment may be necessary if symptoms persist 2-3 weeks after initial therapy.

Deterrence/Prevention:

  • Limiting the morbidity associated with this disease centers around improved sanitation for areas with heavy infestation.
  • Some clinicians have suggested periodic deworming programs for children in endemic areas.

Complications:

  • Rectal prolapse, dysentery, anemia, malnutrition, and growth retardation all can complicate heavy infections.

Prognosis:

  • With treatment, prognosis is typically excellent.

Patient Education:

  • Emphasize good hygiene and avoidance of pica.

Miscellaneous

Medical/Legal Pitfalls:

  • Failure to recognize the most severe infections as parasitic is a pitfall. Resultant delay in antiparasitic treatment can lead to morbidity associated with blood loss, malnutrition, and electrolyte imbalances.
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Synonyms And Related Keywords

Nematoda, parasite, parasite infection, parasitic disease, trichuriasis, Trichuris trichiura, T trichiura, whipworm, rectal prolapse, Trichuris dysentery syndrome, ascaris, anemia

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Author Information and Disclosures

Author: Robert W. Tolan, Jr, MD, Chief of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at St Peter's University Hospital, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine

Coauthor(s): Tina Slusher, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Critical Care, West Virginia University; Steven L. Lanski, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston

Robert W. Tolan, Jr, MD, is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Disease Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Editor Information

Editor(s): Ashir Kumar, MBBS, MD, FAAP, Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University; Consulting Staff, Department of Pediatrics, EW Sparrow Hospital; Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine.com, Inc; Martin Weisse, MD, Program Director, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University; Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine; and Russell W Steele, MD, Professor and Vice Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Head, Division of Infectious Diseases, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

 
 
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