Gnathostomiasis is a zoonosis found in tropical regions caused by ingesting the third larval stage of roundworms. It can cause discomfort and serious complications. Thoroughly cooking food and observing safety precautions during food preparation can prevent transmission.
Gnathostomiasis is a zoonosis found mainly in tropical regions. It occurs when patients ingest the third larval stage of roundworms of the genus Gnathostoma and can cause several weeks of discomfort. The spread of this condition is mainly the result of indifferent hygiene during food preparation and failure to observe safety precautions during food preparation. Travelers could develop gnathostomiasis if they eat poorly prepared local foods. For people who travel frequently, it’s important to mention this during medical appointments.
Roundworms live naturally in animal hosts, which periodically excrete their eggs. If the eggs reach the water, they can develop into an embryonic state and will be consumed by other organisms. Because animals such as fish and frogs eat these organisms, the eggs continue to develop, and when humans eat raw or undercooked meat or fish, they can ingest the larval nematodes and develop an infection. It can take up to 24 hours for symptoms to start showing.
Patients who have gnathostomiasis typically notice the swelling and discomfort of the skin first. Their skin may become itchy, and the swelling tends to move throughout the body as the infection progresses. Gastrointestinal discomfort is common, and some patients develop severe pain because microorganisms migrate through their abdominal organs. If the patient receives antiparasitic drugs to kill the organisms, the swelling will reduce and the patient should feel much more comfortable.
Without treatment, gnathostomiasis can cause serious complications. The parasites might damage internal organs and can trigger the release of a variety of chemical compounds in the body. Patients could go into organ failure in extreme cases. The pain and swelling can be severely bothersome and could limit a patient’s activity levels and make it difficult for him or her to carry out regular activities. It is possible for the organisms to live up to 10 years in a human host if it does not receive medical attention, and can cause considerable damage along the way.
This infection is rare outside the tropics, and in the tropics, gnathostomiasis can be controlled relatively easily. Thoroughly cooking food and paying attention to food handling and storage should be enough to prevent transmission of the dangerous third larval stage of the nematode. It is important for people to cut meat and vegetables on different surfaces, clean cutting boards and other surfaces thoroughly after they have come in contact with raw meat, and check meats after cooking to confirm they are done.
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