[Sporadic trichinosis]

A retrospective analysis was carried out to disclose the clinical and laboratory characteristics of 13 cases with sporadic trichinosis, proved by muscle biopsy at the "Salvador Zubirán" National Nutrition Institute and studied between 1977 and 1986. The number of cases per year was one or two with an increase to five in 1986. None of this patients showed a direct correlation between the type of diet or a specific area of the city. The clinical symptoms and physical findings were similar to those described previously for trichinosis, regardless of the clinical setting. In 69.1 percent of the cases the diagnosis was suspected based on clinical and physical data, and 84.6 percent had blood eosinophilia. Muscle biopsy was taken due to predominant muscular symptoms (92.3%) and this method was the most useful test to establish a specific diagnosis; no correlation was found between the number of larvae or cyst and the clinical symptoms. Thiabendazole and/or prednisone was administered and resulted in apparent improvement of the myopathy and blood eosinophilia during the follow-up (x: 7 months). A discussion is presented in relation to the usefulness of the muscle biopsy when a lack of specific enzyme tests exists; we emphasize the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings to suspect this zoonosis when a multisystemic inflammatory disease with striking myopathy is detected.