Trichuriasis is one of three soil-transmitted helminths, or worm infections. Of all the NTDs on which we focus, it is the second most prevalent, infecting over 600 million people worldwide. More commonly known as whipworm, trichriasis thrives in warm, humid climates and flourishes in communities with poor access water and sanitation.
Trichuriasis is transmitted through accidental ingestion of contaminated soil or unwashed vegetables fertilized with human feces. Once inside the body, whipworm eggs migrate to the small intestine and hatch into adult worms which embed themselves in the lining of the large intestine and colon. Adult whipworms can live in the body for up to a year, and female worms can shed between 3,000 and 20,000 eggs per day. The eggs are passed out of the body via the stool of the human host; if inadequate sanitation exists, they will again be transmitted into the soil, beginning the cycle again.
Children are at high risk for whipworm, because they often play outside in the dirt or soil and put their hands in their mouths without washing them. Prolonged exposure to whipworm can cause serious health consequences including malnutrition, anemia, and physical growth retardation, particularly in children.
A study in Jamaica showed that children with heavy whipworm infections had lower reading and arithmetic scores and were also shorter than those without infection. Upon treatment, all these indicators improved.This study further demonstrates the importance of controlling and eliminating NTDs for increase children’s school perfomance.
More on trichuriasis:
Symptoms
- Chronic, bloody diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea & vomiting
- Weight loss
- Inflammation in the intestines
- Malnutrition and dehydration (in severe cases)
- Anemia (in severe cases, particularly in children)
- Rare cases can lead to rectal prolapse or appendicitis, particularly in children
Control Efforts
As with the other soil-transmitted helminths, treatment of the active trichuriasis infection is coupled with education efforts aimed at proper waste disposal and sanitation management, effective hand washing techniques, and the washing, peeling and/or cooking of vegetables before eating. Anthelminthic drugs are also used to treat the disease.
Prevention and Treatment
- Anthelminthic drugs albendazole (Albenza) or mebendazole (Vermox) on an annual basis
- 50 million tablets of mebendazole donated per year by Johnson & Johnson,
- Albendazole available from GlaxoSmithKline for 2¢ per pill
