Trichinellosis in children and adults: a 10-year comparative study in Western Romania

This study aims to evaluate and compare the epidemiologic, laboratory, clinical, and therapeutic aspects of trichinellosis in child and adult populations residing in Western Romania.

We have retrospectively investigated the medical records of patients with trichinellosis hospitalized between 1996 and 2005 in 5 infectious diseases hospitals located in 4 Western Romanian counties.

Trichinellosis was diagnosed in 1344 patients, of whom 348 were children (26%) and 996 were adults (74%). The annual average incidence was 8.4 cases per 100,000 in children and 7.7 cases per 100,000 in adults. The mean ages for the children and adults were 11 ± 4.4 years and 38.1 ± 14.2 years, respectively. Myalgias and complications of trichinellosis were detected less frequently in children who also had lower eosinophil counts, leukocyte counts, and erythrocyte sedimentation rates compared with those for adults. Albendazole and mebendazole had comparable efficacies in adult patients; however, albendazole proved to be a better choice than mebendazole for the treatment of children.

Trichinellosis occurs commonly among inhabitants of Western Romania. Although the general trend of decline in the incidence of trichinellosis cases cannot be used as a statistical predictor of future improvement, it provides encouragement and demonstrates the need for the implementation of correct public health and educational measures to fully prevent and eradicate trichinellosis in Western Romania.