Trichinellosis

Definition

Trichinosis is an infection due to the roundworm Trichinella spiralis.

Alternative Names

Causes

Trichinosis is a disease caused by eating undercooked meat, which contains cysts of Trichinella spiralis. Trichinella spiralis can be found in pork, bear, fox, rat, horse, and lion meat.

Wild animals, especially carnivores (meat eaters) or omnivores (animals that eat both meat and plants), should be considered a possible source of roundworm disease. Domestic meat animals raised specifically for eating under USDA guidelines and inspection can be considered safe.

Trichinosis is a common infection worldwide, but it is seldom seen in the United States because of strict rules regarding the feeding of domestic animals and meat-processing inspections.

When a person eats meat from an infected animal, Trichinella cysts break open in the intestines and grow into adult roundworms.

The roundworms produce other worms that move through the gut wall and into the bloodstream. These organisms tend to invade muscle tissues, including the heart and diaphragm (the breathing muscle under the lungs). They can also affect the lungs and brain.

There are approximately 40 cases of trichinosis each year in the United States.

Symptoms

• Abdominal discomfort
• Cramping
• Diarrhea
• Muscle pain (especially muscle pain with breathing, chewing, or using large muscles)
• Fever

Exams and Tests

The patients may have a history of having eaten rare or uncooked pork. Tests to diagnose this condition include:

• CBC
• Muscle biopsy
• Serology studies
• CPK

Treatment

Mebendazole or albendazole can be used to treat infections in the intestines. There is no specific treatment for trichinosis once the larvae have invaded the muscles. Pain killers can help relieve the muscle soreness.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Most people with trichinosis have no symptoms and their infection is self-limited (resolves on its own). More severe infections may be more difficult to treat, especially if the lungs, the heart, or the brain is involved.

Possible Complications

• Arrhythmias from heart inflammation (myocarditis)
• Heart failure
• Encephalitis
• Pneumonia

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health provider if you have symptoms suggestive of trichinosis and a recent history of eating undercooked or raw meat that might have been contaminated.

Prevention

Pork and meat from wild animals should be cooked until well done. Freezing at subzero temperatures (Fahrenheit) for 3 to 4 weeks will kill the organism. Smoking, salting, or drying meat are not reliable methods of preventing this infections.

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