1. Know the Causes of the Disease
Trichinosis is the infestation of the roundworm, Trichinella Spiralis. This parasite can be contracted through the consumption of undercooked pork or game. Pork in America is generally free of the roundworms, but in countries where pigs are often fed raw garbage, trichinosis is common. However, even when roundworms are present in pork, cooking or freezing the meat (at low enough temperatures) will eliminate any danger.
2. Recognize the Primary Symptoms
The onset of trichinosis may feel like nothing more than indigestion. One or 2 days after consuming the undercooked meat, you may experience an upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea or heartburn. This occurs when the roundworm is present in the intestines, before the parasite encysts elsewhere in the body. These symptoms are often misdiagnosed, but if you experience them after eating pork, they may point to trichinosis.
3. Learn the Secondary Symptoms
2 to 8 weeks after the initial symptoms, other symptoms may arise. The roundworms will have begun to encyst elsewhere in the body. There is no telling where the worms may go, but the symptoms will reflect the location. Common symptoms include headaches, fever, chills, cough, eye swelling, joint or muscle pain, hemorrhaging and itching. Normally, your symptoms will vanish within a few years, but if the worm infests the nervous system, even though the parasite cannot survive there, more serious or even deadly consequences can arise.
4. Diagnose the Disease
There is no way to determine whether you have trichinosis without tests. Experiencing symptoms after the consumption of undercooked meat is one clue, but a blood test or muscle biopsy is necessary to know for sure. Also, studying stools may hint at the problem. Dead adult worms may be present in stools. Males are usually about 1.5 mm long and females can be as large as 3 mm.
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