Roundworm infection (trichonosis): symptoms, causes and treatment

Definition of trichinosis

Trichinosis, or it can be referred to as trichinellosis, is a parasitic infection caused by worms that enter the human body. The type of worm that causes this infection is the named roundworm Trichinella, which are found in wild meat-eating animals such as pigs, foxes, dogs, wolves, horses, and bears.

If you have a habit of eating undercooked animal meat, you need to be more careful from now on. Because the danger of infection with trichinosis trichinellosis, will be lurking your health.

You can get trichinosis if you eat raw or undercooked meat from an animal that is infected with trichinosis. In humans, the most common cases are trichinosis, which is caused by eating pork or cooking by mixing beef and pork infected with roundworms.

When the body has been infected with worms Trichinella, You will feel signs and symptoms that vary, depending on how many parasites have infected the body. However, usually this parasitic infection will affect your digestive system first.

How common is this disease?

Trichinosis is a fairly common disease. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, there are an estimated 10,000 cases of trichinosis that occur annually worldwide.

Types of worms Trichinella the most common cause of disease is T. spiralis, which is mostly found in pigs. Infection due to types Trichinella others have been reported less frequently.

Severe cases of disease are rare. However, you must remain vigilant because this disease still has the potential to cause fatal health complications.

Trichinosis signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of this disease may vary in severity from person to person. This depends on the number of worm larvae that enter your body through the meat you eat.

The initial symptoms of trichinosis usually appear within 1-2 days after the body is first infected with worms. Then, other symptoms will follow 2-8 weeks after infection.

Symptoms of trichinosis when roundworm larvae are in the intestines are as follows:

• Stomach cramps
• Diarrhea
• Tiring easily
• Nausea
• Gag

About 1 week after infection, adult female roundworms will produce larvae that can penetrate the intestinal wall, enter the bloodstream, and spread to muscles or other body tissues. This will cause the following symptoms:

• Pain in muscles
• Headache
• High fever
• Hot and cold body
• Rash on several parts of the body
• Red eye (conjunctivitis)
• More sensitive to light

When should I see a doctor?

If you have mild trichinosis without symptoms, you may not need medical attention.

However, if you start experiencing digestive problems or muscle aches a week after eating meat, consult a doctor immediately.

Each sufferer's body may show signs and symptoms that vary. Therefore, make sure you consult a doctor to get the most appropriate treatment and according to your health condition.

Causes of trichinosis

Several species of parasites or roundworms Trichinella which causes infection in the human body, namely:

• Trichinella spiralis: mostly found in carnivores and omnivores.
• Trichinella britovi: mostly found in carnivores
• Trichinella nativa: many bears and foxes
• Trichinella nelsoni: there are many in mammals such as lions

As previously explained, trichinosis is carried by the flesh of infected animals and then consumed by humans. Animals can become infected with trichinosis when they eat other infected animals or litter that contains worm-infected meat scraps.

After this contaminated meat enters the human body, the larvae enter the intestines and reproduce to produce adult worms. Then the adult worms spread the larvae into the bloodstream, allowing the worms to move through the blood vessels and into the muscles.

After reaching the muscles, the worms enter the muscle tissue, to be able to live longer in the human body. This is what then causes pain and discomfort in the body.

Trichinosis risk factors

Trichinosis or trichinellosis is a disease that can affect people of all ages with various health conditions. However, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk for this roundworm infection.

The following is a list of risk factors in question:

• Incorrect preparation of cooking meat
  Roundworms can infect your body if you don't cook the meat thoroughly. Worm contaminated cooking utensils, such as a knife or meat grinder, also increase your risk of infection.

• Living in the countryside or on a farm
  Trichinosis is found in rural areas, especially in areas with pig farms.

• Habit of eating wild animal meat
  Some regions or countries still have the habit of eating meat from wild animals, such as bears or wild boar. These animals are most susceptible to getting roundworms Trichinella, so that humans who eat it are also susceptible to infection as well.

Complications of trichinosis

This disease rarely causes complications in the majority of cases. However, if there are too many worms in the body and spread to other organs, trichinosis has the potential to cause fatal complications, such as:

• Myocarditis: inflammation of the myocardium, the thick muscle layer on the wall of the heart
• Encephalitis: inflammation of the brain
• Meningitis: inflammation of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that line the brain
• Pneumonia: inflammation of the lungs

Diagnosis and treatment of trichinosis

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

In the process of diagnosing, the doctor will perform a physical examination and ask about the symptoms you are experiencing, such as indigestion, swelling around the eyes, muscle inflammation, or fever.

Most diseases or symptoms of intestinal worms can be diagnosed with a stool test. However, worm larvae in trichinosis are difficult to find in feces because these parasites tend to hide in muscle tissue after moving from the intestine.

Therefore, there are other options for detecting the presence of worms in the process of diagnosing this disease, namely:

• Blood test
  The medical team will take a sample of your blood and measure the levels of white blood cells or antibodies, which usually indicate a parasitic infection.

• Muscle biopsy test
  Sometimes, doctors also recommend that you undergo a muscle biopsy test, where the medical team will take a small amount of your muscle tissue for examination under a microscope.

What is the right treatment for trichinosis?

Trichinosis infection does not always require treatment, because in some cases the infection can resolve within months after the patient develops symptoms.

However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be aware of the dangers posed by this disease. When finding symptoms in the body that resemble a roundworm infection, several types of drugs are recommended:

• Antiparasitic drugs
  Deworming or anti-parasitic drugs are the first treatments given to treat trichinosis. The type of drug that doctors usually prescribe is albendazole or mebendazole.

• Pain relievers
  If the worms have entered the muscle tissue, the doctor will prescribe a pain reliever medication to relieve pain in the muscles.

• Corticosteroids
  In some cases, trichinosis also triggers an allergic reaction, especially when worms get into the muscle tissue. The doctor will prescribe a corticosteroid medication to control inflammation in the muscles.

To avoid things that are not desirable, do not hesitate to consult a doctor for advice and treatment that suits your condition.

Trichinosis prevention

One of the best ways to prevent infection with this disease is to prepare your dishes properly, especially in the meat processing process. Here are some tips you can try:

• Make sure you cook the meat until it's done, then let the meat sit for 3 minutes after cooking.
• If you eat pork, store the meat in the refrigerator or freezer for 3 weeks to kill parasites.
• Clean any utensils you use to process or cook meat, such as knives and meat grinders.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.