Trichinellosis – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Also known as trichinosis, trichinellosis is an infection caused by the roundworm called Trichinella spiralis. These roundworms are found in animals that eat meat, including pigs, bears, foxes, walruses, and wild boars.

People can get trichinellosis if they eat uncooked, undercooked, or underprocessed meat from an animal that carries the parasite. In most cases, infections are caused by eating pork – especially in areas where these are fed uncooked meat scraps and garbage – or from eating meat from wild boar, bear, or walrus.

When meat that contains live Trichinella cysts are consumed, the cyst wall is digested, which releases larvae that rapidly mature to adulthood and mate in the intestine. After the male worms mate, they die and therefore play no further role in infection. However, the females delve into the intestinal wall and start to produce larvae after a few days.

The production of larvae lasts for around four to six weeks. After that, the female worm dies or is eliminated from the body. Nonetheless, the larvae are carried through the body through the lymphatic vessels and bloodstream. Then, the larvae penetrate muscles, which results in inflammation. In one or two months, they form cysts that can live in the body for years. Eventually, dead larvae are absorbed or become calcified.

Known side effects of trichinellosis

The side effects of trichinellosis include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and malaise. After one week, the infection causes high fever, muscle pain and tenderness, swelling of the eyelids or face, weakness, headache, sensitivity to light, and pink eye or conjunctivitis. In severe although rare cases, trichinellosis could result in the following complications:

• Bronchopneumonia – an inflammation of the lungs and airways
• Encephalitis – an inflammation of the brain tissue
• Meningitis – an inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord
• Myocarditis – an inflammation of the heart muscle
• Nephritis – a condition that causes the kidney to become inflamed
• Pneumonia – a lung infection that causes the air sacs in the lungs to become inflamed
• Sinusitis – a sinus infection that causes the sinuses and nasal passages to become inflamed

Body systems harmed by trichinellosis

The body systems harmed by trichinellosis include the immune, muscular, digestive, and ocular systems. The commonly infected body parts are the muscles in the tongue, around the eyes, and between the ribs. In rare cases, they infect the heart muscle.

List of foods or nutrients that prevent trichinellosis

Foods that prevent trichinellosis and other infections due to worms and parasites include garlic, turmeric, ginger, thyme, citrus fruits, tomatoes, bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, barley, bran, oatmeal, fish, tofu, beans, and yogurt.

Treatments, management plans for trichinellosis

Natural treatments for trichinellosis and other worm infections include the following:

• Coconut – Coconut is a potent anti-parasitic agent. You can eat a tablespoon of crushed coconut or consume four to six tablespoons of extra virgin coconut oil every day.
• Garlic – Garlic is well-known for its anti-parasitic properties. Raw garlic contains sulfur-containing amino acids that are naturally anti-parasitic. To use as a treatment, eat three cloves of raw garlic on an empty stomach daily for one week.
• Unripe papaya – The latex from unripe papaya is packed with the enzyme called papain, which contains anthelmintic properties that can kill intestinal worms. In addition, its seeds contain caricin that get rid of intestinal worms. You can make a smoothie by blending together ground papaya seeds, one tablespoon of coconut oil, one cup of coconut milk, and chunks of papaya fruit.

Other natural treatments include pumpkin seeds, carom seeds, and pomegranate tree bark. On the other hand, conventional treatments use anti-parasitic drugs to get rid of the worms.

Where to learn more

• 4 seemingly harmless but absolutely dangerous wild animals to avoid during hikes
• Causes of “Leaky Gut” and How You Can Heal
• Top 10 health HAZARDS commonly associated with eating conventional meats
• Treating ‘hidden causes’ cures debilitating mental illness, when nutritional approaches and counseling fail
• Illness Affecting Meat Packing Employees Stump Medical Experts

Summary

Trichinellosis is an infection caused by the roundworm called Trichinella spiralis or another Trichinella species.

Trichinellosis is also known as trichinosis.

Trichinellosis causes diarrhea, abdominal cramps, malaise, high fever, muscle pain and tenderness, swelling of the eyelids or face, weakness, headache, sensitivity to light, and pink eye or conjunctivitis.

Trichinellosis can lead to bronchopneumonia, encephalitis, meningitis, myocarditis, nephritis, pneumonia, and sinusitis.

Trichinellosis can be prevented with garlic, turmeric, ginger, thyme, citrus fruits, tomatoes, bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, barley, bran, oatmeal, fish, tofu, beans, and yogurt.

Trichinellosis can be treated with coconut, garlic, unripe papaya, pumpkin seeds, carom seeds, and pomegranate tree bark.

Sources include:

MSDManuals.com

KnowYourDisease.com

Healthline.com

Livestrong.com

Top10HomeRemedies.com