TRICHURIS TRICHIURA

Course overview

TRICHURIS TRICHIURA, ALSO KNOWN AS THE HUMAN WHIPWORM, IS A ROUNDWORM THAT CAUSES TRICHURIASIS IN HUMANS. IF HUMANS INGEST THE EMBRYONATED EGGS, WHICH USUALLY OCCURS DUE TO INGESTION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL, THE EGGS START TO HATCH IN THE HUMAN SMALL INTESTINE AND UTILIZE THE INTESTINAL MICROFLORA AND NUTRIENTS TO MULTIPLY AND GROW. THE MAJORITY OF LARVAE MOVE TO THE CECUM, PENETRATE THE MUCOSA AND MATURE TO ADULTHOOD. INFECTIONS INVOLVING A HIGH-WORM BURDEN TYPICALLY INCLUDE DISTAL PARTS OF THE LARGE INTESTINE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF TRICHURIASIS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM MEMBERS IN COLLABORATING TO PROVIDE WELL-COORDINATED CARE AND ENHANCE OUTCOMES FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.