Throughout the rest if the world, parasitic infestations are more common. There is very little in the Otolaryngology literature about this topic, so that this brief article presents the four most common and interesting of the parasites that may involve the larynx. Trichinosis Trichinosis in man is caused by ingesting meat contaminated with the helminthic organism, Trichinella spiralis . Trichinosis is relatively common worldwide. In the past, contaminated pork was the most common source of infection, but today, in the United States at least, most cases are caused by eating feral meat, such as bear or wild boar.
Man is particularly susceptible to trichinosis infection.
Soon after ingestion, the larvae penetrate the intestinal wall, where copulation and multiplication occur. The next generation of larvae then enter the blood stream, are distributed throughout the body, and finally enter and grow in skeletal muscle. The muscles of the diaphragm, eyes, tongue, chest, shoulders, and calves are often affected. Laryngeal involvement is uncommon. In tissue, the larvae elicit an eosinophilic and lymphocytic inflammatory response.