Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- consumption of raw or under-cooked meat
- sick contacts
- myalgia and myositis
- fever
- peri-orbital/facial oedema
- conjunctivitis and sub-conjunctival haemorrhages
Other diagnostic factors
- subungual and retinal splinter haemorrhages
- other ocular features
- gastrointestinal signs and symptoms
- hepatomegaly
- oliguria
- maculopapular rash
- other cutaneous features
- dysphagia
- dysphonia
- dyspnoea
- headache
- paralysis-like state
- other neurological features
Risk factors
- consumption of raw or under-cooked pork
- consumption of raw or under-cooked horse or other domestic animal meat
- consumption of raw or under-cooked wild game meat
- consumption of raw or under-cooked reptile meat
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- FBC with differential
- creatine kinase and other muscle enzymes
- serum potassium
- serum albumin
- serum IgE
Investigations to consider
- antibody serology
- muscle biopsy
- electromyography
- urinalysis
- serum creatinine and creatinine clearance
- serum transaminases
- MRI or CT brain
- EEG
- cerebrospinal fluid analysis
- ECG
- serum troponin
- Two-dimensional echocardiography
Treatment algorithm
non-pregnant adults
pregnant
children
Contributors
Authors
Miguel G. Madariaga, MD, MSc, FACP

Infectious Diseases Consultant
Naples Community Hospital
Naples
FL
Disclosures
MGM declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Fabrizio Bruschi, MD
Professor of Parasitology
Department of Experimental Pathology BMIE
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
University of Pisa
Pisa
Italy
Disclosures
FB is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.
Jean Dupouy-Camet, MD, PhD
Chef du Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie
Hôpital Cochin
Paris
France
Disclosures
JDC is an author of a number of references cited in this topic. JDC declares that he has no competing interests.
Christopher D. Huston, MD
Associate Professor
Division of Infectious Diseases
Department of Medicine
University of Vermont College of Medicine
Burlington
VT
Disclosures
CDH declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Bacterial gastroenteritis
- Respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infections
- Glomerulonephritis
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- International Commission on Trichinellosis: recommendations on the use of serological tests for the detection of
- FAO/WHO/OIE guidelines for the surveillance, management, prevention and control of trichinellosis
More GuidelinesPatient leaflets
Diarrhoea in adults
Diarrhoea in children
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