Trichuriasis: the clinical picture - abstract

Human trichuriasis is a disease of clinical importance. This study reaffirms its status as such, highlighting the spectrum of manifestations presenting in individuals with Trichuris dysentery syndrome. Individuals with and without the syndrome, having in common a history of bloody, mucoid diarrhoea, were compared. Thirty-one patients (age range 2-10 years) were admitted to the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit. Anthropometry was preceded by full history and physical examination. The cause of dysenteric symptoms in each case was determined by stool analyses and colonscopy. Twenty-six of the patients had colitis secondary to massive Trichuris trichuriura infection. Worm burden was assessed by antihelminthic expulsion following colonoscopy. We present data (Table) from which an index of the diagnostic likelihood of Trichuris dysentery syndrome can be derived. When one or more of the symptoms are present in a child with over 3 months' history of diarrhoea, a diagnosis of the disease, confirmable by stool examination, and suitable antihelminthic treatment are indicated (AU)

Refeeding the malnourished child: effect on the fecundity of trichuris trichiura and ascaris lumbricoides - abstract

Ten children with either Trichuris trichiura and/or Ascaris lumbricoides infection were admitted to the nutrition rehabilitation ward at the Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, U.W.I. Treatment with anthelminthic was delayed until the children attained their normal weight-for-height. Total daily stool output and changes in faecal egg density were monitored for each child, the latter by Kato analyses of sub-samples taken from all daily stools, from admission through to anthelminthic treatment. Worm burdens were then assessed by the collection of expulsions. The fecundity of the whipworm appeared not to be affected by dietary rehabilitation. However, roundworm fecundity decreased, in some instances to zero. In some cases, the roundworms were expelled during the course of refeeding. Refeeding was seen to have an antagonistic effect on the fecundity of A. lumbricoides. The fact that whipworm fecundity went unaltered may be an indication of modulation of the host immune response (AU)