Severe Trichinellosis cured with pulse doses of glucocorticoids

Trichinellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by a nematode Trichinella spiralis. We studied a case of Trichinella spiralis infection with severe eye involvement, febrile condition, generalised malaise and muscular weakness in a young female patient. Comprehensive ophthalmologic, infectologic, neurological and immunologic examinations including electro diagnostic tests and CT scan of the head were performed, but the diagnosis was confirmed only by histological examination of biopsy specimens of skeletal muscle. The patient did not respond to standard corticosteroid therapy and improved only after pulse doses of 1000 mg methylprednisolone. Although most authors recommend moderately high doses of corticosteroids in the treatment of Trichinellosis, in severe cases extremely high doses might be necessary.