The whipworm is one of the most common human parasites. A type of roundworm, this parasitic organism can grow to be up to five centimeters as an adult and live for up to three years. Although infection is possible in the United States, cases are rare. Whipworm infections are more prevalent in rural areas with poor sanitation and tropical climates. This includes parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. It is estimated that about 800 million people worldwide have a whipworm infection.
Humans are the only possible host for a whipworm, and the infection is spread via the fecal-oral route. Once a person accidentally ingests mature eggs, these eggs will make their way to the small intestine where they will hatch. The immature whipworms will attach themselves to the small intestine mucosa, as well as penetrate through it and begin to grow. One week later, the larvae will move to the large intestine and proximal colon. The worms will then imbed more than half of their body length into the mucosal surface. When the worms have matured, they will begin to mate and produce up to 20,000 eggs a day. Reproduction starts to occur about three months after initial infection.
While a whipworm infection can be asymptomatic, people with more than 100 worms may experience lower abdominal pain, excess gas, constipation, or diarrhea. Those with a severe infection, meaning hundreds of thousands of worms, will experience:
Vomiting
Weight loss
Anemia
Tenesmus
Lower or epigastric pain
If you suspect you may have whipworms, consult your doctor. Your physician may conduct some lab studies since whipworm infection diagnosis are usually done via microscopic examination. Anthelmintics are a common treatment.
The whipworm is one of the most common human parasites. A type of roundworm, this parasitic organism can grow to be up to five centimeters as an adult and live for up to three years. Although infection is possible in the United States, cases are rare. Whipworm infections are more prevalent in rural areas with poor sanitation and tropical climates. This includes parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. It is estimated that about 800 million people worldwide have a whipworm infection. 
