Sunday, May 25, 2008

Case of the Week 23

The following worm was extracted during endoscopy, where numerous similar worms were seen attached to the large intestinal mucosa. The worm measures approximately 40 mm. CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE.

Diagnosis?
Images were taken at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and shown with Permission.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whipworm perhaps (Trichuris trichiura)? It has been suggested that these little creatures can be used as therapy in dampening down the symptoms of IBD; something about mediating the autoimmune response in these patients....

Heather said...

I agree (about the Trichuris part, that is.) I have heard similar reports, too, of helminth "therapy" in sufferers of IBD.