Basic Summary for Whipworm

Main name of condition: Whipworm
Other names or spellings: Trichuris trichiura [the whipworm that causes trichuriasis.], trichuriasis, Trichuris infection

What is Whipworm?
Parent types of Whipworm: Worm conditions, Roundworm

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. ¹

How serious is Whipworm?
Complications of Whipworm: see complications of Whipworm

What causes Whipworm?
Class of Condition for Whipworm: parasite worm

What are the symptoms of Whipworm?
Incubation period for Whipworm: about 2 to 3 weeks for eggs to hatch; longer before symptoms.
Symptoms of Whipworm: see symptoms of Whipworm

How is it treated?
Treatments for Whipworm: see treatments 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)

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Parasitic Roundworm Diseases, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID

Last revision: June 13, 2003

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