Trichinosis is an infection of the intestine caused by eating food infected by the parasite Trichinella spiralis. However, Southeast Asian refugees in the U.S. have a 25 times higher occurrence of trichinosis because of food preparation methods. You can get trichinosis by eating raw or inadequately cooked meat, primarily pork and pork products. New worms emerge from these eggs in the stomach or intestine and reproduce in your intestines, causing trichinosis. However, intestinal symptoms may occur as early as a day after you eat the contaminated food.
Trichinosis sometimes has no symptoms.
During the convalescent stage more severe symptoms may appear, involving other parts of the body by the second month. Most people who have this infection recover without treatment. If your disease is in the intestinal stage, your doctor may prescribe mebendazole. For severe symptoms, your doctor may prescribe prednisone. Take all your medication as prescribed.