The consumption of raw and undercooked fish is becoming more common with the increasing worldwide popularity of sushi and sashimi. Thus, Anisakiasis can also occur in other parts of the world, such as in the United States, Europe, and South Africa.
It is important to note that having a risk factor does not mean that one will get the condition. A risk factor increases one’s chances of getting a condition compared to an individual without the risk factors. Some risk factors are more important than others.
Also, not having a risk factor does not mean that an individual will not get the condition. It is always important to discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.
The cause of Anisakiasis is ingestion of raw fish or squid that are infected with the parasitic larvae, which can progressively invade the human digestive system. Even the ingestion of a single worm can cause infection.
The signs and symptoms of Anisakiasis may vary between the affected individuals.
If the worm attaches to the lining of the stomach or intestine, then the following symptoms may ensue due to an inflammatory response (similar to appendicitis and other gastrointestinal diseases):
Symptoms typically fade almost immediately with early removal of the worm. However, abdominal pain may persist for weeks to months after the worm dies.
The diagnosis of Anisakiasis may be difficult, as symptoms caused by other microbes may present with similar symptoms. The diagnosis of the infection is made by the following tests and exams:
Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.
The potential complications from Anisakiasis include the following:
In some cases, treatment of Anisakiasis is not always necessary. The worms typically die and are spontaneously expelled from the body after approximately 3 weeks, since humans are not suitable hosts for the nematodes to complete their parasitic life cycle.
However, the following common treatments can alleviate symptoms more quickly:
Less common treatment options include the following:
Anisakiasis can be prevented with the following measures:
Anisakiasis is also known by the following names - Anisakidosis and Herring Worm Disease.
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