People infected with whipworm can suffer light or heavy infections. People with light infections usually have no symptoms. People with heavy infections can experience frequent, painful bowel movements that contain a mixture of mucus, water, and blood.
What are the symptoms of whipworms in humans?
What Are the Symptoms of a Whipworm Infection?bloody diarrhea.painful or frequent defecation.abdominal pain.nausea.vomiting.headaches.sudden and unexpected weight loss.fecal incontinence, or the inability to control defecation.Whipworm Infection: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
How long do whipworms live in humans?
The adults attach to the wall of the caecum and the ascending colon. The female adult worm starts to produce eggs 60 to 70 days after infection, and sheds between 3,000 and 20,000 eggs per day. The adult worm usually reaches 3-5 cm in length and has a lifespan of 1-3 years.
Can whipworms be passed to humans?
Can I get whipworms? Humans can get whipworms by ingesting soil or water contaminated by the feces of infected animals or people. Most cases in humans do not show symptoms of illness. Heavy infections can cause gastrointestinal signs, especially in children.
What happens if you don't treat whipworms?
The more whipworms, the greater the irritation, which can lead to weight loss, diarrhea, bloody stools, and anemia. This causes a decrease in quality of life and body condition score and can be dangerous in puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with compromised immune systems.
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