Trichuris is not trivial

The scale of disease caused by Trichuris is discussed, pointing to possible reasons for its neglect- under-recognition, under-reporting, and/or uncertainty of pathogenesis.

Abstract

There is no doubt that whipworm, Trichuris trichiura, is common - infecting up to 800 million people throughout tropical and temperate areas. Less clear has been its clinical significance, largely because of the chronic insidious nature of the disease. Here, Ed Cooper and Don Bundy discuss the scale of disease caused by Trichuris, pointing to possible reasons for its neglect- under-recognition, under-reporting, and/or uncertainty of pathogenesis.