Trichinosis

Overview

Larvae in undercooked meat travel to muscles.

Symptoms start with stomach upset, then muscle pain and swelling around the eyes.

Symptoms

Common signs:

• Muscle pain after eating wild game

Less common

• Swelling around eyes
• Fever
• Itching

Look up a symptom: Body aches · Swollen or puffy eyelid or eye

When to get medical care

Causes

Trichinella worms.

Does it spread or run in families?

• It usually doesn't spread from person to person.
• People get it from: undercooked meat.

Who is more likely to get it

• Hunters

Possible complications

• Myocarditis (inflamed heart muscle): Rare
• Encephalitis (inflamed brain): Rare

Diagnosis

A clinician asks about your symptoms and may order tests.

The exam

A physical exam.

Tests

Tests, if needed:

• Blood tests:

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause and how severe it is.

Self-care

• Rest

Prevention

To lower your risk or catch problems early:

• Cook meat to 160°F

Which doctor treats this

• Start with your primary care provider (family doctor or internist).
• They may send you to an infectious disease specialist, for hard-to-treat infections.

Children, pregnancy, and older adults

• Hunters: Cook game meat thoroughly.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

• If you're pregnant or planning to be, tell your prenatal provider about this condition.
• Some infections can pass to the baby during pregnancy or birth. Tell your provider if you've been exposed.
• Don't start or stop any medicine on your own. Some are safe in pregnancy and some need to be changed.
• Ask before taking any pain reliever. The FDA advises avoiding ibuprofen and naproxen after 20 weeks unless your doctor says to.
• Breastfeeding: Most medicines are fine, but ask. The NIH LactMed database lists what's known about each one.

Outlook

Most recover.

Most recover in months.

Getting ready for your visit

Bring a list of your symptoms and medicines.

What to bring

• A list of your medicines and supplements
• Notes on when symptoms started and what makes them better or worse

Questions to ask

• What's causing this?
• What treatment do you recommend?

Research studies

Research studies test new ways to find and treat health problems. Some are looking for volunteers. Talk with your doctor before joining one.

Search ClinicalTrials.gov for studies on Trichinosis