infectious diseases
Trichinosis
Introduction
Trichinosis is infection withTrichinella spiralisor relatedTrichinellaspecies. Symptoms include initial gastrointestinal irritation followed by periorbital edema, muscle pain, fever, and eosinophilia. Diagnosis is clinical with later confirmation by serologic tests. Muscle biopsy may be diagnostic but is seldom necessary. Treatment is withmebendazoleoralbendazoleand, if symptoms are severe, also withprednisone. (See also Approach to Parasitic Infections .) Trichinosis occurs worldwide. In addition to the classic agentTrichinella spiralis, trichinosis can be caused byT. pseudospiralis, T. nativa, T. nelsoni, andT. britoviin different geographic locations. An estimated 10,000 cases of trichinosis occur worldwide each year. Fewer than 20 cases are reported each year in the United States. 