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2026, Number 3

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Rev Mex Pediatr 2026; 93 (3)

Massive trichocephalosis associated with severe anemia

Cruz-y López OR, Tamariz-Cruz OJ, Flores-y Flores S, Vázquez-Hernández PA, Cárdenas-Perea ME

Language: Spanish
References: 20
Page: 124-128
PDF size: 1296.57 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Introduction: intestinal helminth infections represent a public health problem, particularly in rural regions of Mexico. Trichuris trichiura infection can cause severe clinical manifestations when the parasite load is high. We describe a case of massive trichuriasis with severe anemia, analyzing the utility of quantitative stool microscopy (coproparasitoscopic analysis or CPS) in improving diagnostic accuracy. Case presentation: a 10-year-old female patient residing in a rural community in Puebla. The clinical presentation had evolved over three years, characterized by intermittent muco-hemorrhagic diarrhea, straining, tenesmus, and rectal prolapse. Severe anemia (hemoglobin 2.6 g/L) and the presence of Embadomonas intestinalis in stool samples had been detected previously. Upon hospital admission, quantitative stool analysis using the Kato-Katz method confirmed a massive Trichuris trichiura infection (91,000 eggs/g) and a coinfection with Ascaris lumbricoides (1,000 eggs/g). The patient improved following treatment with albendazole and blood transfusions. Conclusions: this case highlights the importance of quantitative diagnosis in CPS, which supports the correlation of parasite load with the clinical severity of patients and helps guide therapeutic management.


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