A 8 year old female presents to the family practice clinic with a chronic history of bloody diarrhea. Physical examination reveals rectal prolapse. She likes to eat dirt. No fever or vomiting present.
Labs: Stool sample reveals many barrel-shaped eggs.
Discussion: Diagnosis of Trichuris trichura (whipworm) infection is made by seeing barrel-shaped eggs in stool. Trichuris trichuria ia a Nematode (roundworm). It is transmitted via the oral-fecal route. The infections is sometimes asymptomatic but chronic diarrhea and rectal prolapse may ensue.
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