Whipworms in Humans - From the Soil to the Large Intestine

Whipworms are a type of roundworm that can inhabit the large intestine of humans and animals. In humans, whipworms are a more common infection in children.

Humans can become infected with whipworms anywhere, but whipworms tend to thrive in tropical climates where the weather is warm and humid. The main way whipworms are spread to humans is when people come into contact with soil that has been contaminated with whipworm eggs. Whipworm eggs get into the soil through fecal matter. In addition, sometimes whipworms can be transmitted through vegetables that have been grown in contaminated soil. Therefore, one main way humans can prevent the spread of whipworms is by improving the methods of feces disposal.

The presence of whipworms in humans can cause a range of symptoms, from no symptoms at all to mild symptoms to severe symptoms. Since whipworms live in the large intestine, severe whipworms in humans can cause stomach pain, loss of appetite, iron deficiency, bloody diarrhea, rectal prolapse (detached rectum), and fecal incontinence.

Doctors usually diagnose whipworms in humans by taking a stool sample and checking for the presence of whipworm eggs. Once a case of whipworms is confirmed, the patient can be prescribed a medication to be taken by mouth for a few days, which often leads to a full recovery.