A 12-year-old child with trichinellosis, pyomyositis and secondary osteomyelitis

Abstract

Trichinellosis is a parasitic infestation affecting the skeletal muscles. Cases of trichinellosis in humans have been reported from most regions of the world. However, a review of literature revealed only two reported cases of human trichinellosis in India. Further, a diagnosis of superimposed pyomyositis in trichinellosis with secondary osteomyelitis has not been reported to our knowledge. This article reports this rare case presentation in a 12-year-old child. Timely intervention helped prevent long-term morbidity in our patient. In our case report, we also discuss in detail the pathogenesis of such a condition and discuss the role of imaging modalities and an early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose the condition and start an early treatment.

Seroepidemological investigation of Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp. in pigs reared by tribal communities and small-holder livestock farmers in Northeastern India

“…No seropositive samples were identified in Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. Multiple human case reports of trichinellosis causing pyomyositis and osteomyelitis have been documented across India [ 41 , 42 ]. In Uttarakhand, a northern state of India, multiple outbreaks of trichinellosis occurred, with 70 suspected cases and 11 mortalities reported following the consumption of undercooked or raw wild boar meat [ 43 ].…”

Trichinella spp. in Slaughtered Pigs of India: From Neglected Disease to an Emerging Food Safety Threat for Public Health

“…Until an outbreak of human trichinellosis in the year 2011, there was only one documented case of trichinellosis from India in women with a history of pork consumption [17]. Only a few sporadic outbreaks from a hilly state of Uttaranchal between 2009 and 2011 [18], a rare case of human trichinellosis with pyomyositis and secondary osteomyelitis from PGIMER, Chandigarh [19], a case of trichinellosis associated miscarriage [20] and T. spiralis associated squamous cell carcinoma from Dehradun have been reported recently [21], which all were linked to the history of consumption of pork of wild boar or pork products.…”

Epidemiological Studies on Porcine Trichinellosis in Five States of North East India

“…In India, human trichinellosis remained a neglected zoonosis (15) with sporadic cases until 2012 (16, 17). However, the presence of Trichinella has been conclusively shown by the different works of another investigator, who isolated Trichinella from cats, rodents and domestic pigs, respectively (18, 19).…”