Trichinosis with ventilatory failure and persistent myocarditis.
Life-threatening infections with Trichinella spiralis are rare in countries that have adopted laws requiring cooking of raw garbage fed to pigs. Thus such infections may pose a diagnostic dilemma for clinicians unfamiliar with their presentation. We report a case of imported trichinosis in a Mexican national who developed respiratory failure, myocarditis, and sinus arrest. The patient recovered uneventfully after the administration of benzimidazole and corticosteroid drugs, although a pacemaker was required to maintain normal cardiac rhythm. Symptomatic myocarditis is a rare complication of trichinosis that is often associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This report illustrates and reviews important features of the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and management of trichinosis.
Compton
S J
SJ
Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
Celum
C L
CL
Lee
C
C
Thompson
D
D
Sumi
S M
SM
Fritsche
T R
TR
Coombs
R W
RW
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001146:Arrhythmia, Sinus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001706:Biopsy; D002440:Cefoxitin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009132:Muscles / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000209:etiology*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013827:Thiabendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017160:Trichinella spiralis; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
D002440:Cefoxitin; D008463:Mebendazole; D013827:Thiabendazole; D011241:Prednisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone