What is Trichinellosis? 🐖🦠
Trichinellosis, also called trichinosis, is a parasitic infection caused by eating raw or undercooked meat infected with larvae of the Trichinella worm, most commonly from pork or wild game like bear or boar.
How Does Infection Occur?
- People get infected by eating meat that contains Trichinella larvae.
- Once ingested, the larvae are released in the intestines, mature into adult worms, and reproduce.
- New larvae then travel through the bloodstream and lodge in muscles.
Symptoms
Symptoms appear within 1 to 2 weeks after eating infected meat and may include:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms: Diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting
- Muscle symptoms: Muscle pain, tenderness, swelling, weakness
- Fever and fatigue
- Headache
- Swelling around the eyes (periorbital edema)
- Difficulty coordinating movements (in severe cases)
- Rash (sometimes)
Diagnosis
- Blood tests detecting antibodies to Trichinella
- Muscle biopsy in some cases
- Patient history of eating raw or undercooked meat
Treatment
- Antiparasitic medications such as albendazole or mebendazole
- Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs for muscle symptoms
- Early treatment improves recovery
Prevention
- Cook pork and wild game meat thoroughly (internal temperature of at least 71°C or 160°F)
- Freeze pork at proper temperatures to kill larvae (freezing may not kill larvae in wild game)
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat