A disease caused by undercooked meat! Let's learn about Trichinosis?

Have you ever eaten undercooked meat, especially pork, and developed a stomach ache or vomiting a few days later? It could be due to a condition called Trichinosis, which we are going to talk about today. It may sound a bit scary, but if we are aware of it, we can easily avoid it.

What is Trichinosis?

Simply put, Trichinosis is a parasitic disease that occurs when you eat raw or undercooked meat, especially pork, that contains the larvae of a worm called Trichinella. It is also called Trichinellosis.

Imagine, when you eat meat with worms like that, the acids and enzymes in your stomach dissolve the protective cell (cyst) around the larvae, releasing the worms. Then these worms go and settle in your body tissues, especially in your muscles . This disease can develop in anyone, regardless of age or health status.

How common is this disease?

Trichinosis is a disease that can be seen all over the world. According to estimates, about ten thousand people in the world get it every year . However, in countries like America, this has now decreased a lot. Although there used to be about 400 cases reported per year, between 2011 and 2015, that number has decreased to 16. The reason for this is that people are aware of the things that need to be followed properly when cooking meat.

What causes this?

There are several main causes of trichinosis. Let's take a look at what they are:

• Eating raw or undercooked pork products is the main cause.
• Eating meat that is not stored properly.
• Not properly cleaning kitchen utensils (like knives and cutting boards) used when preparing meat. Imagine what would happen if you cut another dish with the same knife that cut meat with worm eggs .
• Eating raw or undercooked meat from wild animals that contain worms. These animals include deer, elk, wild boar, bears, wolves, and some birds.

What are the symptoms of this?

The symptoms of trichinosis can be very mild for some people, and more severe for others. These are the early symptoms that can begin within a few days of the worm larvae entering your body:

• Nausea and vomiting .
• In the stomachDiarrhea (stomach ache).
• Stomach pain .

Then, there are symptoms that start about two weeks after you eat the meat that has the worms in it, and can last for weeks. They are:

• Muscle pain and soreness. Like a stiff limb after exercise.
• Fever.
• Headache.
• Swelling of the eyes.
• Chills are a feeling of coldness in the body.
• Excessive fatigue.
• Diarrhea or constipation (constipation).
• Cough.
• Skin rash or itching.

However, if this gets a little worse, bigger problems like these can arise:

• Losing balance and having difficulty moving around.
• Inflammation of heart muscles.
• Difficulty breathing.
• A condition like encephalitis, a brain infection.

These symptoms can last from five to 45 days. However, they usually start to appear within 10 to 14 days of eating meat that has worms in it. Stomach problems can come even earlier, even within a day or two. Often, when this disease is mild, people confuse it with a common cold. However, it is important to remember that in very severe cases, it can even cause death .

Is Trichinosis contagious?

Trichinosis is an infection. However, it is not a contagious disease that can be passed from person to person like a cold or cough. However, there is some evidence that if a pregnant mother gets the disease, the baby can also be infected.

How do you recognize this disease?

Your doctor can determine whether you have trichinosis based on these factors:

• The symptoms you are showing.
• Check to see if you have eaten any meat that may contain worm larvae.
• Blood tests check for an increase in a type of white blood cell called eosinophils.

Antibodies to Trichinella are not initially detected in the blood. Therefore, a doctor can confirm the disease by doing a blood test later to look for these antibodies. Stool samples cannot detect the disease.

Very rarely, a doctor may also recommend a biopsy, which involves taking a small piece of your tissue and testing it to confirm the diagnosis.

What is the treatment for this?

If you have eaten raw or undercooked meat and are showing symptoms of trichinosis, you should definitely see a doctor. It is best to start treatment as soon as possible. Although this disease sometimes gets better on its own, some severe cases can be fatal if left untreated.

Your doctor may prescribe medications like these:

• Medicines that are given to remove parasites from the body. Examples include mebendazole and albendazole. If you take these medicines within the first three days of infection, they can stop the infection from spreading to the muscles and prevent the disease from getting worse.
• Medicines that are given to reduce pain, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) .
• Medicines that are given to reduce inflammation in the body. For example , steroids .

What complications can this cause?

If left untreated, trichinosis can cause serious complications. These may include:

• Damage to the heart, resulting in irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and/or heart failure.
• Brain damage and conditions such as seizures.
• Lung damage and severe breathing difficulties.
• Rarely even death occurs.

Even with treatment, long-term complications can sometimes occur, including problems with the eyes, muscles, and nerves.

How long does it take to recover?

If you get trichinosis, it can take weeks to fully recover, so you'll need to be patient.

What is the outlook for those with this disease? (Outlook/Prognosis)

Most people recover completely from trichinosis, but it can take weeks, even months, to fully recover.

However, in severe cases where there is damage to the brain or heart, the outlook is not so good.

How can I avoid getting this disease?

You can't tell if there are worms in the meat you eat by looking at it. Parasites can only be seen under a microscope. However, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself from getting trichinosis. The most important thing is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after handling raw meat, and before preparing any food.

Be careful when cooking meat.

Any kind of meat you eat, especially pork and wild animal meatIt is very important to cook thoroughly. Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of the meat and cook until it reaches the recommended temperature. Wash the thermometer thoroughly with soap before and after using it.

• For pork: Recommended temperature is 160 degrees Fahrenheit (about 71 degrees Celsius).
• For wild game meat (like deer, elk, bear, rabbit): The recommended temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit (about 74 degrees Celsius).
• For wild bird meat (like wild duck, quail): 180 degrees Fahrenheit (about 82 degrees Celsius) for a whole bird.
• Wild bird parts (e.g., breast, thigh): 165 degrees Fahrenheit (about 74 degrees Celsius). This includes stuffing that is cooked inside the bird, or vegetables that are cooked with the bird in the pan.

Important: The best way to check if meat is cooked properly is to use a food thermometer. Don't just judge by the color.

Freezing meat

Store pork or other meats less than 6 inches thick in a freezer at -15 degrees Celsius for 20 days, -23 degrees Celsius for 10 days, or -30 degrees Celsius for 6 days . However, some worms in wild meat may not be killed by freezing in this way, as these parasites are sometimes resistant to cold.

Be aware of other processing methods as well.

In the past, Trichinosis in America was caused by eating undercooked pork. But after people were educated, the number of cases decreased. However, many people still do not cook wild animal meat properly. Also, many people do not know that salting meat or smoking meats does not kill the Trichinosis cysts. Recently, cases of Trichinosis have also been reported from Jerky.

When should I see a doctor?

If you develop symptoms within a few days or weeks of eating pork or wild game, be sure to see a doctor. The symptoms of trichinosis vary depending on the stage of the disease, so try to remember which symptoms you had and when.

If you are undergoing treatment for trichinosis and you experience any side effects from the medication that are a concern, tell your doctor about that as well.

If you experience nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain within a few days of eating wild game or some types of pork, see a doctor immediately. If you have food poisoning or trichinosis, it is best to get it diagnosed and treated immediately. Remember, it is very important to cook all meats you eat properly, to the correct temperature.

Finally, a few things to remember

Okay, so we've talked a lot about Trichinosis. Although it may seem like a scary disease, we can easily avoid it if we follow a few simple habits.

• The most important thing is to cook meat, especially pork and game meat, thoroughly. Use a food thermometer to ensure it is cooked to the correct temperature.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap before and after handling raw meat, and before starting work in the kitchen.
• Wash and clean cutting boards and knives thoroughly after use. Do not cut vegetables on the same board you used to cut raw meat.
• Avoid eating suspicious meats.
• If symptoms of illness appear, see a doctor without delay.

If you keep these things in mind, you and your family can stay healthy and free from the problem of trichinosis. Do you understand?

` Trichinosis, Parasitic diseases, Pork, Cooking meat, Food safety, Symptoms, Prevention