Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Trichiniasis; Trichinellosis
Treatment
Mebendazole or albendazole can be used to treat infections in the intestines. There is no specific treatment for trichinosis once the larvae have invaded the muscles. The cysts remain viable for years. Pain killers can help relieve muscle soreness.
Support Groups
Expectations (prognosis)
Most people with trichinosis have no symptoms and the infection goes away by itself. More severe infections may be more difficult to treat, especially if the lungs, the heart, or the brain is involved.
Complications
- Encephalitis
Heart failure - Heart rhythm problems (
arrhythmias ) from heart inflammation (myocarditis) - Pneumonia
Calling your health care provider
Call your health provider if you have symptoms of trichinosis and recently ate undercooked or raw meat that might have been contaminated.
Previous Section
Review Date: 12/10/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in
Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division
of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts
General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
