This is a type of roundworm infection known as Trichinosis or Trichinellosis. These parasites (trichinella) live and reproduce in the human body using it as a host. Trichinella parasites usually infect animals including bears, cougars, walruses, foxes, wild boars, and domestic pigs. People usually get this infection by consuming an immature form of the roundworm (larvae) in raw or undercooked meat. When people get this larva it begins to grow into adult worms in the small intestine usually. Thereafter, it produces larvae that go through the bloodstream in different body parts. These larvae bury themselves in the muscle tissue. This roundworm infection usually happens in rural areas throughout the world. While not every time you get this infection you need treatment, it can be treated with medicines. However, better to prevent it.
Symptoms
The symptoms and severity of the infection occur differently among people. It depends on the amount of larvae that enter the body through infected meat.
Possible No Symptoms
In mild trichinosis cases, people often do not experience any symptoms. However, if there are moderate or heavy infestations, you may experience some symptoms. In most cases, symptoms worsen when this roundworm goes throughout the body.
Primary Symptoms
Once the roundworm larvae enter the body, the digestive juices dissolve the cysts and larvae enter the small intestine wall. Thus, it begins to grow into adult worms and mate. Mostly, digestive symptoms appear within 2 days after you get infected. Check below some symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Stomach or abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue (severe weakness and tiredness)
Late Symptoms
The adult female worms begin to produce larvae within 7 days after infection. Therefore, these larvae go through the intestine walls into the bloodstream throughout the body. In addition, they bury themselves in muscle tissues and each larva begins to create a cyst around itself.
However, larvae can live in the muscle tissues for months to years. The most common symptoms of this stage include:
- Aching joints
- Muscle pain and tenderness
- High fever and chills
- Weakness
- Headaches
- Light sensitivity
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
- Itchy and irritated skin
Severe muscle pain and weakness can occur if you have a large amount of parasites. It usually leads to breathing, moving, and speaking problems.
Additionally, the symptoms last often a few months and they lessen when the larvae form cysts. However, you may experience fatigue, mild pain, weakness, and diarrhea from months to years even if the infection disappears.
In case you experience muscle pain or digestive problems, immediately contact your healthcare professional.
Causes
The primary cause of this infection is raw or undercooked meat that is infected with the trichinella roundworm parasite. This parasite cannot pass from one person to another.
Commonly, animals get infected with this parasite when they feed on other infected animals. Moreover, infected meat can come from any wild animal including bear, cougar, wolf, wild boar, walrus, or seal. Domestic horses and pigs become infected by eating infected meat scraps in garbage.
In addition, the in U.S. pork is a less common source of infection because of increased control of pork feed and products. People get infected with this roundworm parasite by eating wild animal meat.
Furthermore, you cannot get infected from beef because cows do not eat meat. People can get trichinosis from beef in a grinder where it is ground-infected meat.
Risk Factors
- Improper food preparation – Humans usually get this parasite when consuming uncooked or raw infected meat such as park and wild-animal meat.
- Rural areas – This infection occurs mostly in rural regions and the high infection rate is in hog-raising areas.
- Eating wild or noncommercial meats – Different public health measures have reduced the number of trichinosis infections from commercial meats. However, wild animals are the most common infection sources in the U.S.
What Are The Possible Trichinosis Complications?
Certain complications can happen in severe trichinosis cases only. Generally, complications of this infection are quite rare. In any case, some complications can be dangerous and even fatal. Trichinosis complications include:
- Encephalitis
- Myocarditis
- Meningitis
- Pneumonia
Is it Possible to Prevent Trichinosis?
One way to defend yourself from this infection is proper food preparation. Check below some tips that will help to prevent or avoid trichinosis:
- Do not consume raw or undercooked meat – It is recommended to make sure that meat is thoroughly cooked. For instance, the internal temperature should be at least 160 F or 71 C and you can use a thermometer to check if the meat is completely cooked.
- Freeze pork – In case you freeze pork that is less than 6 inches thick at 5 F or -15 C for 3 weeks will destroy the roundworm parasites. However, parasites in wild animal meat cannot be killed by freezing.
- Additionally, other options of meat processing or preserving including curing, pickling, or smoking cannot destroy the parasites in an infected meat. Moreover, some people use microwave cooking as a method to kill the roundworm parasites. Unfortunately, it will not work and parasites will not die.
- Clean thoroughly meat grinders – You should wash well the grinder before each use.
- Hand washing – After handling raw meat, it is recommended to wash your hands with water and soap for 20 seconds. It can be helpful in preventing the spread of infection to other food.
Diagnosis
Doctors perform a physical examination and ask questions about symptoms to diagnose trichinosis. They can also order you to do some tests. For example:
- Blood tests – These are done to check for increased white blood cells that usually appear when people experience this infection.
- Muscle biopsy – Commonly, a blood test is enough to diagnose this condition. However, sometimes doctors may perform a muscle biopsy. During this procedure, a doctor removes a small sample of muscle and examines it under a microscope to identify roundworm (trichinella) larvae.
In some cases, stool sample tests also can show the parasites.
Treatment
In mild trichinosis cases, people do not need treatment, and symptoms go on their own. However, if you experience a severe form of trichinosis the symptoms will disappear within several months. Unfortunately, some people may experience fatigue, mild pain, weakness, and diarrhea for months or years after treatment. Severe symptoms that require treatment happen when a person has an increased amount of parasites. Check below some treatment options:
- Anti-parasitic medicines – The primary treatment option is Albendazole or Mebendazole, which helps to destroy the parasites and larvae in the small intestine. Common adverse reactions include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain.
- Pain Relievers – These medicines are usually prescribed by doctors to lessen pain and swelling (inflammation).
- Steroid Medicines – Sometimes, steroid medicines are prescribed by doctors to relieve pain and inflammation. It occurs when parasites enter the muscle tissue when larvae die and release some chemicals that cause pain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can trichinosis be life-threatening?
In mild trichinosis cases, it goes away on its own but if you experience a severe form and leave it untreated, it can lead to death. Talk with your doctor if you suspect you have this infection.
What are the primary trichinosis symptoms?
- Burning, redness, or itching in the genital area
- Stomach discomfort
- Pain during sex or urination
What are the potential long-term trichinosis effects?
If you ignore this condition, it may lead to some serious health problems. For example inflammation and damage to the heart (which lead to arrhythmia, heart failure, and others) and brain (seizures). In case you have additional questions, ask your healthcare professional.
