Trichinosis, also known as trichinellosis, is a disease caused by a species of roundworm called Trichinella. These parasitic roundworms are found in animals that eat meat, such as:
- pigs
- bears
- foxes
- walruses
- wild boars
You can contract trichinosis if you eat raw or undercooked meat from an animal infected with Trichinella, but the most common offending agent for humans is pork meat.
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Trichinosis is fairly rare in the United States since there are strict laws for meat processing and animal feed. In fact, only 16 trichinosis cases on average were reported each year from 2011 to 2015, with the disease most commonly seen in rural areas.
When you first become infected, you may or may not have any symptoms. However, within 1 week of the initial infection, the larvae will enter your muscle tissue. Once this happens, the symptoms usually become apparent.
Trichinosis symptoms that may occur while the larvae are in your intestines include:
Trichinosis symptoms that may occur after the larvae enter your muscle tissue include:
- muscle aches and pains
- a high fever
- facial swelling
- sensitivity to light
- persistent eye infections
- unexplained rashes
- headaches
- chills
Trichinosis is caused by the larvae of the Trichinella roundworm. The parasitic worm is often found in animals that eat meat. Pigs are one of the most common carriers of this parasite.
The Trichinella roundworm is also commonly found in bears, foxes, and wild boars. Animals can become infected with Trichinella when they feed on other infected animals or on garbage containing infected meat scraps.
Humans can get trichinosis when they eat raw or undercooked meat from an animal infected with Trichinella larvae.
After the parasites are ingested, the stomach acid dissolves the cyst, which is the protective capsule surrounding the larvae. When the cyst is dissolved, the larvae enter the intestine, where they mature into adult worms and reproduce.
The female worms then release their larvae into the bloodstream, letting them migrate through the blood vessels and into the muscles.
Once they’re in the muscles, the worms encapsulate into the muscle tissues, where they can live for an extended period.
Your doctor may be able to diagnose trichinosis by taking your medical history and asking you about your symptoms. They may also perform certain diagnostic tests to determine whether there are any larvae present in your system.
Your doctor may take a sample of your blood and test it for signs of trichinosis. Elevated levels of white blood cells and the presence of antibodies against the parasite may indicate a Trichinella infection.
Your doctor may also perform a muscle biopsy if the blood test results are inconclusive. During a muscle biopsy, your doctor will remove a small piece of muscle tissue and analyze it for the presence of Trichinella larvae.
Trichinosis doesn’t always require treatment. The infection may resolve without treatment within several months after the onset of symptoms.
However, the condition is often treated with medications to help manage symptoms and to prevent complications from developing.
Your doctor may prescribe antiparasitic medication (albendazole or mebendazole usually) to treat the infection, steroids to help control inflammation, and pain medication for muscle aches.
In rare cases, a severe Trichinella infection could lead to the following complications:
- myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle
- encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain tissue
- meningitis, which is an inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord
- bronchopneumonia, which is an inflammation of the lungs and airways
- nephritis, which is a condition that causes the kidney to become inflamed
- pneumonia, which is a lung infection that causes the air sacs in the lungs to become inflamed
- sinusitis, which is a sinus infection that causes the sinuses and nasal passages to become inflamed
Though some of these conditions can be serious, they’re often detected during diagnostic testing, so treatment can be received fairly quickly.
The outlook for people with trichinosis is generally good. Trichinosis usually isn’t a serious condition and may go away without treatment within a few months.
However, receiving prompt treatment can speed up your recovery and prevent complications. This can improve your outlook.
Certain symptoms may linger for an extended period, even after treatment. Symptoms that may persist include fatigue, mild muscle pain, and diarrhea.
Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about symptoms you may be continuously experiencing after treatment.
The best way to prevent trichinosis is to prepare food properly. Here are some tips to follow when cooking meat:
- Use a meat thermometer.
- Don’t sample meat until it’s cooked.
- Cook ground meat and wild game to at least 160°F (71°C).
- Cook whole cuts of meat to at least 145°F (63°C).
- Cook poultry to at least 165°F (74°C).
- Freeze pork less than 6 inches thick for 20 days at 5°F (-15°C) to kill any worms.
- Avoid eating walrus, horse, or bear meat.
- Thoroughly clean any utensils that touch meat.
- Clean meat grinders thoroughly.
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw meat.
To prevent a Trichinella infection among animals, don’t allow pigs or wild animals to eat the undercooked meat, scraps, or carcasses of animals that may be infected with Trichinella larvae.
