title: [Trichinellosis: epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aspects. A retrospective study (1994-2003)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trichinellosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by ingestion of infected meat containing cysts of Trichinella spp.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory findings of trichinellosis patients in our center and compare the results with those from published series. To analyze the relationship between the clinical symptoms and laboratory findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical records of 127 patients were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Epidemiological: 61% were male and mean age was 32 years; 95% were associated with other cases. The food implicated was always pork. Clinical: 45% presented gastrointestinal symptoms and 98% systemic symptoms. Three patients required intensive care unit hospitalization and one died. In 53%, treatment consisted of associated antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory drugs. Laboratory: 59% presented leukocytosis and 72% absolute eosinophilia. Creatine phosphokinase was elevated in 62%, lactic dehydrogenase in 56% and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) in 30%. Among 52 patients, 65% had positive serology; trichinoscopy of food samples was positive in three outbreaks. The population studied had a mean of 5 signs and/or symptoms. The patient group with more than 5 signs and/or symptoms presented higher white blood cell counts and GOT levels (p < 0.05)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results were comparable to those of other series; however, there was a low rate of complications. An association was found between a larger number of signs and symptoms and higher leukocyte counts and GOT levels. The relevance of these findings should be assessed in future studies. There is no agreement as to the best therapeutic option, a fact reflected in the various treatment modalities seen in our study.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Enfermedades Infecciosas Francisco J. Muñiz. Buenos Aires. Argentina. juanambro@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ambrosioni
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cecchini
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castellaro
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biscione
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lloveras
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Orduna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014234:Trichinella / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014235:Trichinellosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents