Explore a pediatric case of a toddler with a 6-month history of Diarrhea, anemia, and failure to thrive, leading to an unexpected endoscopic finding.
A 2-year-old boy from a rural village was brought to the pediatric clinic with a 6-month history of diarrhea and poor weight gain. His body weight was 12.1 kg (below the 25th percentile for his age) and height 90 cm (1 SD below the median for his age). Physical examination revealed dry mucous membranes and decreased skin turgor. Laboratory tests showed iron-deficiency anemia, eosinophilia, and occult blood in the stool. Stool samples examined by direct microscopy for ova and parasites were negative. A colonoscopy showed numerous mobile, white worms adherent to the colon wall. What is the most likely culprit organism?
What is the most likely diagnosis?
Eosinophilia, Failure to Thrive, Parasitic Infection, Pediatrics, Trichuris trichiura (whipworm)
