eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: General Medicine > Parasitology

Whipworm: Follow-up

Author: Robert W Tolan Jr, MD, Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine
Coauthor(s): Tina Slusher, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Critical Care, West Virginia University; Steven L Lanski, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Assistant Professor, Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jan 27, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • Retreatment may be necessary if symptoms persist 2-3 weeks after initial therapy.

Deterrence/Prevention

  • Limiting the morbidity associated with this disease centers around improved sanitation for areas with heavy infestation.
  • Some clinicians have suggested periodic deworming programs for children in endemic areas.

Complications

  • Rectal prolapse, dysentery, anemia, malnutrition, and growth retardation all can complicate heavy infections.

Prognosis

  • With treatment, prognosis is typically excellent.

Patient Education

  • Emphasize good hygiene and avoidance of pica.

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Failure to recognize the most severe infections as parasitic is a pitfall. Resultant delay in antiparasitic treatment can lead to morbidity associated with blood loss, malnutrition, and electrolyte imbalances.
 


More on Whipworm

Overview: Whipworm
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Whipworm
Treatment & Medication: Whipworm
Follow-up: Whipworm
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

whipworm, anemia, ascaris, Nematoda, parasite, parasite infection, parasitic disease, rectal prolapse, trichuriasis, Trichuris dysentery syndrome, Trichuris trichiura, T trichiura

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD, Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine
Robert W Tolan Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Physicians for Social Responsibility
Disclosure: GlaxoSmithKline Honoraria Speaking and teaching; MedImmune Honoraria Consulting; MedImmune Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching; sanofi pasteur Grant/research funds Unrestricted research grant; sanofi pasteur  Consulting; sanofi pasteur Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Tap Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Baxter Healthcare Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Coauthor(s)

Tina Slusher, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Critical Care, West Virginia University
Tina Slusher, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Society of Critical Care Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Steven L Lanski, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Assistant Professor, Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston
Steven L Lanski, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Ashir Kumar, MBBS, MD, FAAP, Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University; Consulting Staff, Department of Pediatrics, EW Sparrow Hospital
Ashir Kumar, MBBS, MD, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Pfizer Inc Stock Investment from financial planner; Avanir Pharma Stock Investment from financial planner ; WebMD Salary and stock Employment and investment from financial planner

Managing Editor

Martin Weisse, MD, Program Director, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University
Martin Weisse, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Ambulatory Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine
Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP is a member of the following medical societies: Ambulatory Pediatric Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Society of Hospital Medicine
Disclosure: Baxter Honoraria Consulting; Pfizer Honoraria Consulting

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD, Head, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Children's Health Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine
Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: None None None

 
 
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