Trichinosis of the pharynx: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Trichinosis of the pharynx, like mycosis, refers to parasitic diseases of the pharynx, although the parasite itself belongs to the class of helminths from the nematode group. The disease as a whole is characterized by fever, damage to the muscles, skin, mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, and in severe cases - internal organs and the central nervous system.

Cause. The causative agent is Trichinclla spiralis. The length of the female is 3 mm, the male is 1 - 2 mm, in diameter both individuals reach 40 μm. Sexually mature Trichinella live in the mucous membrane of the colon. Females give birth to larvae which, with the blood and lymph flow, spread throughout the body and settle in the striated muscles, where they begin to twist in a spiral and encapsulate after 3-4 weeks after the invasion. The capsule is calcified within 2 larvae, but the larvae can remain viable for 25 years.

Epidemiology. The source of infection for humans is pig meat, less often wild animals (wild boars, bears, walruses, seals, etc.), infected with trichinella, and not properly heat treated. Immunity after a lifetime illness.

The clinical picture differs in variety both in severity of the disease and in fact arising symptoms, determined by localization of parasite invasion. The incubation period varies from 1 to 25 days. The disease begins suddenly with a rise in body temperature (38-40 ° C), eyelid edema, muscle aches, eosinophilia up to 40% against leukocytosis. Symptoms of the disease are manifested by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a general bad state, down to loss of consciousness, severe muscle pain, a decrease in their functions (eg, disruption of oculomotor muscles leads to temporary strabismus). The defeat of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles greatly hinders breathing movements, making them superficial and painful.

Trichinella can be entered with blood into the muscles of the pharynx and larynx and disrupt their motor function (dysphagia, dysphonia, pain when swallowing and talking). In the foreign literature, several cases of trichinosis have been described, in which a temporary damage to the muscles of the tympanic cavity appeared, manifested by constant low-frequency ear noise, autophony and hypoacupuncture.

In severe clinical cases, the body temperature reaches 40-41 ° C, there are generalized muscle pains, insomnia, swelling of the face, neck, trunk, extremities. There is a rash on the skin of erythematous-papular, sometimes hemorrhagic nature.

The prognosis for timely treatment is favorable.

The diagnosis is made on the basis of a clinical picture (pain in the muscles, abdomen, diarrhea, muscle movement disorders, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, in the blood - eosinophilia and leukocytosis). Great importance is attached to the epidemiological anamnesis. If necessary, use immunological diagnostic methods (indirect hemagglutination reaction with antigen from Trichinella larvae, complement fixation reaction, immune-enzyme reaction).

Treatment of patients with mild and blurred forms is performed at home symptomatically (analgesics, antihistamines, easily assimilated rich in vitamins food). In severe cases, treatment is carried out in a hospital. Prescribe a specific treatment with vermox (mebendazole), antihistamine drugs, prednisolone, conduct appropriate therapeutic measures for the occurrence of disorders of internal organs.

Prevention includes general food and individual activities.

The first is conducted in accordance with the existing sanitary and anti-epidemic instructions under the supervision of employees of sanitary and epidemiological surveillance. Individual activities include the non-use of contaminated meat. In doubtful cases, it should be subjected to prolonged boiling for 2.1 / 2-3 hours with a piece thickness of not more than 2.5 cm. Trichinella larvae tolerate prolonged salting and smoking; in frozen meat at a temperature of -15 to -20 ° C they can remain viable for a long time.