Colonic obstruction and perforation due to Trichuris trichiura.

Acute obstruction of the cecum due to Trichuris trichiura developed in a 25-year-old Puerto Rican man who had emigrated to the northeastern United States five years previously. Obstruction was caused by a large tangled mass of whipworms . Perforation of the ascending colon also occurred and resulted in pericolic abscess. This case is the first report of intestinal obstruction by Trichuris. Because infection with Trichuris is endemic to Puerto Rico but not to the northeastern United States, it appears that the patient had harbored latent parasitic infection for the prolonged period of time since emigration.