Trichinosis, the symptoms of which are associated with muscle damage, is very dangerous for human health and life. The causative agents of the disease are Trichinella helminths,
parasitic in humans and some mammals.
Disease development
Trichinosis infection occurs when raw or insufficiently thermally processed meat is used that contains pathogenic larvae. Most often, this pathology is diagnosed in the winter-autumn period. Helminth larvae die only under the influence of high temperature, not lower than 80 degrees. Once in the human stomach, after an hour they are able to invade the intestinal mucosa and turn into a mature individual. After 4-7 days, the females begin to lay live larvae. Trichinella with blood flow migrates from the intestines to the motor muscles (oculomotor, intercostal, chewing, muscles of the tongue, diaphragm, legs, arms). After some time, they acquire a spiral shape and are covered with a capsule of lime. In this state, they can live in the human body for several years.
Trichinosis. Symptoms
The first signs can appear only a week after infection. The disease begins with symptoms of general malaise: headache, swelling of the face or upper body, weakness. Three days later,
muscle pain appears
, usually first in the lower extremities, after which they spread to the whole body. Painful red eyes, itchy skin rashes, fever - all these are signs of such an ailment as trichinosis. Symptoms on the fifth day (at the height of the disease) are associated with inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. There is diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating. People complain of sleep disturbances, they are worried about hallucinations. Moreover, neurological symptoms are rather asymmetrical, without any prerequisites there are sharp changes in the mental state. In severe cases, intoxication and muscle pain may be accompanied by coughing, shortness of breath,
stiff neck. Trichinosis, the symptoms of which are observed for more than a month, can be complicated by pneumonia, myocarditis, renal failure, thrombosis,
paresis of the extremities, impaired hearing and vision.
Disease detection
Diagnosis of trichinosis is based on the patient's history. It turns out whether a person ate 1-6 weeks before the onset of the disease, raw or poorly processed pork, bacon, wild meat, canned food or home-made sausages. You can also identify an ailment with the help of a laboratory test. Trichinoscopy or by digestion in gastric juice (artificial) in the meat reveals parasite larvae. If this is not possible,
serological reactions are studied (RIGA, RSK, ELISA). By the end of the second week after infection, they become positive. Helminths can be detected using a blood test to determine the level of eosinophils. Another method is fluoroscopy. It allows you to detect foci of inflammation in the lungs. An electrocardiogram is used to determine the severity of damage to the heart muscle by parasites.