{"id":11365,"date":"2019-08-28T05:41:54","date_gmt":"2019-08-28T05:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=11365"},"modified":"2021-04-27T15:43:27","modified_gmt":"2021-04-27T15:43:27","slug":"14-common-symptoms-of-whipworm-infection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-symptoms-of-whipworm-infection\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Symptoms of Whipworm Infection"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Whipworm is a common parasitic infection that affects hundreds of millions of people every single year. As a matter of fact, studies and statistics show that around 600-800 million people have the infection worldwide. There are quite a few things that could cause a whipworm infection. Firstly, if you eat unwashed fruits that contain the parasite or its eggs that you\u2019ll inadvertently come down with the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This also applies to vegetables that weren\u2019t peeled. If you even hold dirt that contained the parasite or its eggs then proceed to put your hands near your mouth then this is another way that you could ingest the parasite without even knowing. With so many potential causes, it\u2019s hard to avoid the parasite in totality. That being the case, early treatment is the next best thing. That relies on your ability to detect it, which is why we\u2019re taking you three eight of the most common symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Bloody diarrhea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Diarrhea <\/a>is never fun and often indicates some type of digestive problem. While something as simple as food poisoning could cause diarrhea, it often won\u2019t contain blood. Bloody diarrhea is a red flag that a far more serious condition is at the root of the problem. The official medical term used to describe bloody diarrhea is dysentery which you may have heard of in the past without knowing what it meant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salmonella and E. coli are common causes of dysentery. Whipworm infections can also lead to bloody diarrhea though. This is due to the fact that the infection is obstructing the normal operation of your gastrointestinal system. If you notice blood diarrhea then you should go to your doctor and take a stool test so that you can get to the bottom of the problem and get proper treatment immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Painful defecation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re suffering from a whipworm infection then you might also notice that you experience pain during defecation. The severity of the pain that you endure can vary from one patient to the next. That being said, it will likely become more intense as the infection progresses. There are some patients who only suffer from mild discomfort <\/a>at first while others describe the pain during defecation as unbearable torture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re on the milder end of the spectrum then consider yourself lucky and go for proper treatment before the pain becomes more severe. Just because it\u2019s starting off subtle that doesn\u2019t mean that it\u2019s gonna stay that way. There have been some reports of the pain during defecation becoming twice as painful which every passing bowel movement. Your doctor will be able to treat the underlying condition while also minimizing the impact of the symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Frequent defecation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most people have their own specific bowel patterns. Even pooping as often as three times a day is considered normal provided that the person in question has always pooped that often. That being said, if they normally poop once a day or even every other day but suddenly start having three bowel movements each day then this is a clear indicator that something is wrong with their digestive system<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whipworm infections have been known to increase the frequency of defecation. Some doctors believe that this is due to the body trying to flush the parasites out and restore the equilibrium in your intestine. If you notice a sudden shift in your bowel pattern \u2014 especially if it occurs in conjunction with other symptoms on this list \u2014 then you should head to your doctor so that you can check if a whipworm infection is the root cause. Catching the infection early will make it easier to treat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Abdominal pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another telltale sign that you\u2019re dealing with a parasitic infection is abdominal pain. It\u2019s worth noting that many parasitic infections such as pinworms could actually be asymptomatic <\/a>in many patients. There are even common cases where the body manages to flush out the parasites before the host even notices. That being said, when symptoms do develop, abdominal pain is often the first one to appear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is due to the fact that most parasites attach themselves to your intestinal tract so that they can feed on incoming nutrients. Whipworm infection has been known to cause abdominal pain in most patients who experience symptoms. If it\u2019s coupled with changes to your bowel pattern and even pain during your movements then a whipworm infection is most likely the cause of the symptoms \u2014 meaning you should consult with your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Nausea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nausea <\/a>is also a common symptom in patients who are suffering from a parasitic infection such as whipworms. The severity and frequency of your nausea can vary depending on many different factors. If your whipworm infection is in the early stages then you\u2019ll likely notice short waves of nausea that aren\u2019t too severe. That being said, you might find that these \u201cwaves\u201d turn into a constant sensation as the infection progresses if you don\u2019t treat it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why following up your suspicions with proper testing after experiencing even minor symptoms is a great way to minimize the damage done to your body and nip these types of problems at the bud. It\u2019s also an effective means of ensuring that further complications don\u2019t arise as a result. If you notice waves or even constant nausea, especially if it comes alongside other symptoms here, then having a stool test is advised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Vomiting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t treat your whipworm infection after noticing nausea and other symptoms then you may begin vomiting<\/a>. This holds true for most other conditions as well. Nausea is your body\u2019s way of telling you that something is wrong and it\u2019s gonna vomit if you don\u2019t treat it soon. If you ignore your body\u2019s early warning signs and still don\u2019t seek treatment then the prophecy will be realized and you\u2019ll start vomiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The frequency of your vomiting can vary, though it will often increase as the whipworm infection progresses. The severity may also go up over time. As soon as you vomit for the first time after experiencing the other symptoms you should already see your doctor for a stool test. In fact, you should\u2019ve done so even before you started vomiting but there\u2019s not much you can do about that without a time machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Unexpected weight loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let us be completely clear here: there\u2019s nothing inherently wrong with losing weight. If you\u2019re currently overweight then shedding some pounds is actually a good thing that can be beneficial to your overall health. That being said, there should always be a clear reason that you\u2019re losing weight. If you\u2019re on a new diet or exercising more frequently then losing weight is a given.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if your dietary intake and lifestyle haven\u2019t had any significant changes recently and you\u2019re still losing weight <\/a>\u2014 especially at a rapid pace \u2014 then you might be suffering from a condition. Cancer is the first thing that most people think of, but parasitic infections like whipworm can also lead to unexpected weight loss This is due to the fact that they take up some of the nutrients you eat, causing you to miss out on the nourishment and thus lose weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Fecal incontinence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fecal incontinence is just a fancy word that doctors use to describe a lack of control for defecation. Those who suffer from fecal incontinence will often have poop leaking out of the anus without any control over the matter. Nerve damage, diarrhea<\/a>, and constipation can all lead to fecal incontinence. What\u2019s not as widely known though is the fact that parasitic infections like whipworm can actually also cause fecal incontinence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The severity of the incontinence can vary from one case to the next. Some people may only suffer leakage when they release gas while others might have no bowel control whatsoever. There are quite a few OTC medications like Imodium that could help with this, but treating the underlying cause \u2014 such as whipworm \u2014 is advised. Focusing solely on the symptoms will make the condition easier to endure but it won\u2019t cure it altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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