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Step 1
Look for the first stage symptoms that occur when the worms are in the intestines. Abdominal pain, diarrhea and fever are typical symptoms of trichinosis. Vomiting occasionally accompanies the other symptoms, which typically begin 24-48 hours after eating contaminated food. The symptoms can last for as long as 7 days.
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Step 2
Watch for the symptoms that trichinosis has started traveling in the blood stream. These symptoms will affect the whole body. They include fever, facial swelling, rashes, bleeding fingernails, bleeding eyes and a cough. More severe cases will also cause swelling of the brain, heart and lungs. These are the only symptoms that are potentially fatal.
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Step 3
Observe the next stage of trichinosis. The worms begin forming cysts within 2 or 3 weeks of infection. This stage causes swelling, pain and weakness in affected muscles. Commonly affected muscles include those in the face, upper arms, lower back and diaphragm. The symptoms peak in severity once the trichinosis has been present for around 3 weeks. After that they diminish gradually over time. Some symptoms persist for months, especially tiredness and muscle pain.
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Step 4
Consult a doctor as soon as you think that you might have trichinosis. A doctor will diagnose trichinosis by identifying these characteristic symptoms. Muscle biopsies can confirm a diagnosis after about 3 or 4 weeks of infection. Worms cannot usually be found in stool samples, although some blood tests can detect it. A doctor will prescribe bed rest and aspirin or another medication to relieve fever and discomfort.
