Trichinosis is a disease caused by a variety of round worms-parasites. Trichinella enter the human body when using invasive meat, mainly pork. In rare cases, the source of infection with trichinosis is the meat of wild animals. At the same time, scientists-parasitologists note the high susceptibility of people to the disease. In order for a person to develop trichinosis, it is enough to consume 10-20 g of contaminated, poorly thermally processed meat, lard or products based on them.
You should know that Trichinella larvae die at temperatures above 80 degrees, and such methods of processing the product as smoking and salting do not disinfect meat. When storing meat products in a household refrigerator, parasites do not perish. To cause their death, you need deep freezing to -35 degrees.
Symptoms of trichinosis
The characteristic clinical symptoms of trichinosis in humans are:
- febrile condition, fever;
- pain in the muscles, especially palpable in the legs;
- swelling of the face;
- general weakness;
- a polymorphous (consisting of different elements) rash;
- conjunctivitis.
In trichinellosis, signs that are characteristic of digestive tract disorders can be noted:
- diarrhea without mucus and blood;
- nausea and vomiting.
Complicated forms of trichinosis are characterized by neurological and psychic syndromes:
- insomnia;
- depressive states;
- the appearance of hallucinations.
With erased and mild forms of the disease, all symptoms are poorly expressed, with an average degree of disease in a person there is a significant temperature increase, rather strong muscle pains, a marked rash. In addition, the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system are affected. The severe course of the disease causes paralysis and frustration of many body systems, but as experts note, the causes of death usually become:
- myocarditis ;
- pneumonia;
- meningoencephalitis
- hepatitis.
Diagnosis of trichinosis
For an accurate diagnosis of trichinosis,
- physical (general) examination, which reveals the presence of rash, tachycardia, noises in the heart and muffled heart tones, fever, rales in the lungs;
- a general blood test to determine the level of eosinophils;
- serological examination of the blood for the presence of antibodies to trichinella;
- a biopsy of the muscle in which painful sensations arise.
In addition, the doctor collects an anamnesis of life and illness of the patient, in particular, finds out whether the patient did not eat meat of wild animals. If the remnants of a product that is supposedly infected with Trichinella are preserved, then it is examined for the presence of larvae.
Treatment of trichinosis
In order to destroy trichinella, suppress the production of larvae by parasites, and disturb the encapsulation process, trichinosis is treated with albendazole and mebendazole (vermox). To prevent allergic reactions that arise due to the death of worms, therapy with Voltaren or Brufen is prescribed. When
Prophylaxis of trichinosis
Infections of trichinosis can be prevented if you consume meat that has passed through vnesanekspertizu and undergone sufficient heat treatment. It is recommended to cook or simmer pork and meat of wild animals, pieces of not more than 8 cm in thickness for at least 2.5 hours.