With prolonged digestive disorders, the patient unexpectedly discovered a severe whipworm infection.

Patient VTN (57 years old) was admitted to the hospital with dull abdominal pain around the navel and frequent bowel movements throughout the day for several months. A large number of parasitic worms were found in the colon.

Doctors at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases have just discovered a severe case of whipworm infection, with a large number of worms parasitizing the colon of a female patient who came for examination due to prolonged digestive disorders.

The patient, Mrs. VTN (57 years old, residing in Bac Ninh ), was admitted to the hospital with persistent dull abdominal pain around the navel, frequent bowel movements throughout the day for the past few months, and a weight loss of approximately 2 kg.

According to her account, the symptoms developed gradually and without sudden onset, so she was complacent and only sought medical attention when the condition persisted and increasingly affected her daily life.

Medical history revealed that the patient habitually ate raw vegetables and some undercooked or raw dishes. These factors increase the risk of intestinal parasitic infections, especially in areas with poor sanitation.

After the examination, the doctors ordered a colonoscopy to find the cause.

During the endoscopy, doctors discovered numerous off-white worms, approximately 0.3-0.5 cm in size, densely packed within the colon.

Test results confirmed it was whipworm – a type of parasitic worm that commonly resides in the colon.

According to the doctors, the large number of worms indicates that the patient had been infected for a long time but was not detected early due to atypical symptoms. This is a severe case of whipworm infection, relatively rare in adults.

Associate Professor-Doctor Le Tran Anh, a specialist in Fungi and Parasitology at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said that whipworm infections occur worldwide , most commonly in areas with warm climates, high rainfall, plenty of shade, and poor sanitation.

Whipworms can occur at any age, but are more common in children due to their frequent play and direct contact with soil.

Prolonged whipworm infestation can cause various health problems such as abdominal pain, anemia, malnutrition, and affect a child's development.

Whipworms attach to the intestinal mucosa to feed on blood and nutrients, causing damage and leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, digestive disorders, fatigue, micronutrient deficiencies, anemia, rectal prolapse, etc. Whipworm infection is diagnosed by testing for worm eggs in stool or by colonoscopy revealing worms in the intestinal lumen.

Diagnosis of whipworm infection can be made through stool tests to look for worm eggs or by directly detecting the parasitic worms during a colonoscopy.

After diagnosis, patients will be treated with specific anthelmintic drugs according to a prescribed regimen, combined with follow-up and reassessment after treatment.

To prevent whipworm infection, experts recommend that people maintain good personal hygiene and a clean living environment; wash hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet; eat cooked food and drink boiled water; limit the consumption of raw vegetables that have not been thoroughly washed and soaked; use safe drinking water; avoid walking barefoot, especially in damp areas; and prevent children from crawling or playing directly on dirty ground.

In addition, people should proactively seek medical attention if they experience persistent abnormal symptoms such as abdominal pain around the navel, digestive disorders, frequent bowel movements, weight loss, or unexplained anemia.

Regular check-ups and necessary tests will help detect intestinal parasitic diseases early, allowing for timely treatment and preventing long-term health complications.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/roi-loan-tieu-hoa-keo-dai-benh-nhan-bat-ngo-phat-hien-nhiem-giun-toc-nang-post1082844.vnp