Trichinosis - Diagnosis

An initial diagnosis of trichinosis relies heavily on the presence of the most classic symptoms of trichinosis (including swelling around the eyes, muscle inflammation, fever, and high levels of the blood cells called eosinophils), coupled with the patient's report of having eaten undercooked meat of a species known to potentially carry trichinosis.

The most common food culprit in the United States has been pork sausage, while outbreaks in Europe have been attributed to wild boar and horse meat, outbreaks in Asia and Africa have been due to dog meat, and outbreaks in Northern Canada have occurred due to consumption of walrus and bear meat.