Have you ever eaten raw or undercooked pork? If so, you may be at risk of contracting trichinosis, a parasitic infection caused by the roundworm Trichinella spiralis.
This infection can cause a range of symptoms, from mild gastrointestinal discomfort to more serious complications like myocarditis and meningitis. But don’t panic – there are steps you can take to treat trichinosis and prevent it from becoming a serious health issue.
In this article, we’ll explore what to do if you’ve eaten raw pork, including when to seek medical attention and what treatments are available. So let’s dive in and learn more about this potentially dangerous infection.
What To Do If You Eat Raw Pork?
If you’ve eaten raw or undercooked pork and are experiencing symptoms of trichinosis, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, muscle pain, and swelling around the eyes.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe medication to rid your body of the parasites, such as mebendazole or albendazole. These drugs are most effective when taken within the first three days of infection. They can stop the infection from spreading to your muscles and causing more serious complications.
In addition to medication, your healthcare provider may also recommend pain relievers like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids to help with inflammation. It’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions closely and take all prescribed medication as directed.
If you have a mild case of trichinosis, you may be able to treat it at home by drinking plenty of fluids to replace those lost due to vomiting and diarrhea. You can also purchase sachets from a pharmacy or online that contain electrolytes and other important vitamins and minerals to help replace what your body has lost.
Symptoms Of Trichinosis
Symptoms of trichinosis can vary depending on the stage of the disease. The first symptoms usually appear within 1-2 days after eating infected meat and can include diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, and stomach pain. As the larvae migrate to the muscles and begin to encyst, other symptoms may appear 2-8 weeks after infection. These can include fever, headaches, chills, muscle soreness, pain and swelling around the eyes.
The severity and duration of symptoms depend on the number of parasites in the meat and the amount eaten. In rare cases, complications can develop and affect the heart, brain, and lungs, which can be fatal. If you experience any of these symptoms after eating raw or undercooked pork or wild game meats, it’s important to contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
It’s important to note that trichinosis can be prevented by thoroughly cooking all meat to the correct temperature. The USDA recommends cooking pork to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) with a three-minute rest time before carving or consuming. For wild game meats, it’s recommended to cook to an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). By taking these precautions, you can avoid the risk of contracting trichinosis from infected meat.
How Trichinosis Is Spread
Trichinosis is a food-borne disease caused by a microscopic parasite called Trichinella. The infection occurs when humans eat raw or undercooked meat from animals infected with the parasite. Wild game, such as bear, and pork products are the most common sources of the infection.
The Trichinella larvae are embedded in the muscle tissue of infected animals. When the meat is consumed, stomach acid removes the hard cover that surrounds the larvae, freeing them to develop into adult worms in the small intestine. The adult worms mate and bear offspring, which travel via the bloodstream to muscles, where they develop protective covering and remain in place.
Humans can become infected with Trichinosis by eating raw or undercooked meat that contains the roundworm larvae. It is most commonly found in wild game meat (such as bear, wild feline, fox, dog, wolf, horse, seal, and walrus) and less commonly, pork. After the meat with the parasite larvae is eaten, the larvae grow into worms in the intestines, which reproduce and make larvae that go into the bloodstream and travel to the skeletal muscle and embed.
It’s important to note that Trichinosis is not spread from person to person. Humans become infected only after eating raw or undercooked meat that contains Trichinella larvae. Meat-eating animals such as pigs, dogs and cats, and wild animals such as rats, foxes, wolves, and bears may be infected with Trichinella. The infection is not spread by person-to-person contact.
To prevent Trichinosis infection from raw pork or other meats, it’s important to cook all meats thoroughly before consuming them. Meat should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 145°F for pork and 165°F for poultry. Freezing meat at -4°F for at least three weeks can also kill any Trichinella larvae present in the meat. By taking these precautions, you can reduce your risk of contracting this potentially serious illness.
What To Do If You Suspect You Have Trichinosis
If you suspect that you may have trichinosis after consuming raw or undercooked pork, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately. Contact your healthcare provider and inform them of your symptoms and recent food consumption.
Your healthcare provider will likely order tests to confirm the diagnosis, such as a blood test or muscle biopsy. It’s important to note that these tests may give false negative results early on in the course of the disease, so follow-up testing may be necessary.
While waiting for test results, it’s important to avoid consuming any more raw or undercooked pork or meat from potentially infected animals, such as wild game. Additionally, if you have recently consumed meat from an animal that is being tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD), do not consume any of the meat until test results have been returned.
If you are diagnosed with trichinosis, it’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions closely and take all prescribed medication as directed. It’s also important to monitor your symptoms and report any changes or new symptoms to your healthcare provider. With prompt and proper treatment, most cases of trichinosis can be successfully treated with no long-term complications.
Medical Treatment For Trichinosis
If you have a more severe case of trichinosis, medical treatment may be necessary. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medication to help rid your body of the parasites, such as mebendazole or albendazole. These drugs can be effective in stopping the infection from spreading to your muscles and causing more serious complications.
In addition to medication, your healthcare provider may also recommend pain relievers like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids to help with inflammation. These can help alleviate symptoms like muscle pain and swelling.
It’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions closely and take all prescribed medication as directed. In some cases, hospitalization may be necessary if the infection has caused severe complications or if you are experiencing dehydration or other serious symptoms.
If you have been diagnosed with trichinosis, it’s also important to inform anyone you may have come into contact with who may have consumed the same raw or undercooked meat. This can help prevent further spread of the infection.
Home Remedies For Trichinosis
While seeking medical attention is crucial for treating trichinosis, there are also some home remedies that can help alleviate symptoms and support your body’s healing process. Here are a few natural remedies you can try:
1. Ginger: Ginger has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties that may help ease muscle pain and inflammation associated with trichinosis. You can make ginger tea by steeping fresh ginger in hot water for 5-10 minutes, or add ginger to your meals or smoothies.
2. Garlic: Garlic has antimicrobial properties that may help fight the Trichinella parasites in your body. You can add garlic to your meals or take garlic supplements to boost your immune system.
3. Turmeric: Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory compound that may help reduce muscle pain and inflammation associated with trichinosis. You can add turmeric to your meals or take turmeric supplements.
4. Probiotics: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help restore the balance of good bacteria in your gut, which may have been disrupted by the Trichinella parasites. You can take probiotic supplements or eat probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
5. Hydration: It’s important to stay hydrated when you have trichinosis, as vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration. Drink plenty of water, herbal teas, and electrolyte-rich drinks like coconut water to replenish lost fluids.
Remember, while these home remedies may help alleviate symptoms of trichinosis, they should not replace medical treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider. Always consult with a healthcare professional before trying any new remedies or supplements.
How To Prevent Trichinosis In The Future
The best way to prevent trichinosis is to make sure that all pork products are properly cooked. It’s important to cook meat to a safe temperature of at least 145°F, as measured with a food thermometer placed in the thickest part of the meat. After cooking, allow the meat to rest for three minutes before carving or consuming.
It’s also important to avoid eating raw or undercooked pork, and to be cautious when consuming wild game meats. Freezing pork less than 6 inches thick for 20 days at 5°F (-15°C) can kill any worms that may be present. However, freezing wild game meats may not effectively kill all worms, as some species of worm that infect wild game animals are freeze-resistant.
To help prevent trichinosis in animal populations, do not allow pigs or wild animals to eat uncooked meat, scraps, or carcasses of any animals, including rats, which may be infected with Trichinella. Additionally, it’s important to avoid abdominal shots when hunting game animals, as they can lead to contamination of the meat and cause the animal needless suffering.
Homemade jerky and sausage should also be avoided, as curing (salting), drying, smoking, or microwaving meat alone does not consistently kill infective worms. These methods have been the cause of many cases of trichinosis reported to the CDC in recent years.
By following these precautions and cooking pork products properly, you can greatly reduce your risk of contracting trichinosis in the future.
