Trichinosis : Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Prevention

Trichinellosis, also known as trichinosis, is caused by eating raw or undercooked meat from animals infected with Trichinella larvae. Infection is common in wild carnivorous (meat-eating) animals like bears and cougars, as well as omnivorous (meat and plant-eating) animals like domestic pigs and wild boars.
signs and symptoms:
Trichinellosis symptoms, severity, and duration vary. The first symptoms of trichinellosis are frequently nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, and abdominal discomfort. The first symptoms may be followed by headaches, fevers, chills, cough, swelling of the face and eyes, aching joints and muscle pains, itchy skin, diarrhoea, or constipation. If the infection is severe, patients may have difficulty coordinating their movements, as well as heart and breathing problems. Death can occur in severe cases.
Most symptoms of mild to moderate infections go away within a few months. The symptoms of fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, and diarrhoea can last for months.
Incubation Period:
Abdominal symptoms may appear 1-2 days after infection. Additional symptoms typically appear two to eight weeks after consuming contaminated meat. The number of infectious worms consumed in meat influences the severity of the symptoms. Mild trichinellosis cases are frequently misdiagnosed as the flu or other common illnesses.
How does infection occur:
When a human or animal consumes meat containing infective Trichinella larvae, the acid in the stomach dissolves the cyst's hard covering, releasing the worms. The worms enter the small intestine and mature in 1-2 days. Adult females lay eggs after mating. Eggs develop into immature worms that travel through the arteries to the muscles. The worms curl into a ball within the muscles and encyst (become enclosed in a capsule). When another human or animal consumes meat containing these encysted worms, the life cycle begins again.
Diagnosis:
A blood test or muscle biopsy can show if you have trichinellosis.
Treatment:
To treat trichinellosis, several safe and effective prescription drugs are available. Treatment should begin as soon as possible and is based on symptoms, exposure to raw or undercooked meat, and laboratory test results.