TRICHINIASIS: CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS

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Abstract
15-20% of adults in the U. S. become infested with trichinae during their lifetime, according to the average results of many autopsy investigations. Prevention of trichiniasis is relatively easy, since the only measure necessary is thorough cooking of all pork products intended for human consumption and of all garbage fed to swine. Mortality in epidemics has averaged about 10%; but in sporadic cases it is definitely under 5%. Symptoms and signs depend largely on the localization of the larvae during their dissemination from the intestinal mucosa through the blood stream. Embryos have been found at autopsy in almost every tissue and organ of the body. Stress is placed on the diagnostic importance of an eosinophilia and of a history or observation of puffy eyelids in the patient or in members of the family. Prognosis and treatment are discussed; from a series of 35 sporadic cases, 12 are abstracted to illustrate various interesting points and mistakes in diagnosis. The commonest incorrect diagnoses are: grippe, influenza, nephritis, sinusitis, typhoid fever, and rheumatic fever.
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