The ingested eggs hatch and the whipworm embeds in the mucus membrane. The worms live in the large intestine, predominantly in the cecum and appendix, but they may infest the colon also.
Light infestations cause few symptoms.
Heavy infestations may result in bloody, mucous-like diarrhea . Whipworm infection is one of the diseases that may be associated with rectal prolapse . Good public health practices, covered sewers, and sanitary disposal have reduced the incidence of whipworm infection. The affected person has bloody diarrhea that appears to contain mucous. A stool ova and parasites exam reveals the presence of whipworm eggs.