Many infected people can feel the worms as small itchy things moving around in the rectum. The treatment is easy and safe, but everyone in a household needs to be treated at the same time. Since the eggs hang around in the air and in dust, a second treatment may be necessary. Although annoying, these worms do not cause any serious disease. Trichinosis, a roundworm infection that is not transmitted through feces, remains a problem in this country.
Most cases arise from eating undercooked pork containing the larvae of the trichinae worms.
These larve mature in the intestines and burrow through the body to muscles, where they form new cysts. Light infections do not cause symptoms, and many people who were never known to have trichinosis can be found to harbor the cysts if carefully examined during an autopsy. Heavy infections can cause serious disease and even be fatal. Most cases now arise from homemade pork products, such as sausage, which have not been totally cooked. Thorough cooking, freezing pork at -15 degrees centigrade for three weeks, or radiation treatment will all kill the larvae.