A 4-year-old child from a slum settlement presents with dysentery and rectal prolapse. Stool examination reveals barrel-shaped eggs measuring about 50 micrometres with prominent bipolar mucoid plugs. The causative worm is:
- A Ascaris lumbricoides
- B Enterobius vermicularis
- C Trichuris trichiura ✓
- D Ancylostoma duodenale
Correct answer: C. Trichuris trichiura
Explanation
Trichuris trichiura (whipworm) produces characteristic barrel- or football-shaped eggs with bipolar translucent plugs. Heavy worm burden, especially in undernourished children, causes chronic dysentery, tenesmus, and rectal prolapse due to the anterior end embedded in colonic mucosa. Ascaris eggs have a mammillated outer coat without plugs, Enterobius eggs are D-shaped and flattened on one side, and hookworm eggs are thin-shelled with cleaved blastomeres.
Reference: Paniker's Textbook of Medical Parasitology, 8th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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