USAID's NTD Program

Whipworm (Trichuris trichiura or Trichocephalus trichiuris)

Diagnosis

	Adult whipworm Source: VCD Kampala/Uganda

Whipworm infestation is detectable by stool examination, which can detect eggs and charcot-leyden crystals. The Kato-Katz is the technique of choice for diagnosis and quantification of infection with T. trichiura.¹

Adult worms may be seen in a prolapsed rectal mucosa.

 

Learn more about whipworm:

• Epidemiology
• Symptoms
• Life Cycle of T. trichiura
• Treatment, Prevention, and Control
• Back to Whipworm Overview

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References

1. World Health Organization: Prevention and control of schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminthiasis. Report of a WHO expert committee, WHO Technical Report Series 912. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2002.