Trichinosis medical therapy
|
Trichinosis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Trichinosis medical therapy On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Trichinosis medical therapy |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Trichinosis medical therapy |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Trichinosis, also called trichinellosis, or trichiniasis, is a parasitic disease caused by eating raw or undercooked pork and wild game products infected with the larvae of a species of roundworm Trichinella spiralis, commonly called the trichina worm. The few cases in the United States are mostly the result of eating undercooked game or home reared pigs. It is most common in the developing world and where pigs are commonly fed raw garbage.
Medical therapy
Symptoms can be treated with aspirin and corticosteroids. Thiabendazole can kill adult worms in the intestine; however, there is no treatment that kills the larvae. Safe and effective prescription drugs are available to treat both Trichinella infection and the symptoms that occur as a result of infection. Treatment should begin as soon as possible and a doctor will make the decision to treat based upon symptoms, exposure to raw or undercooked meat, and laboratory test results.