Several weeks after exposure a patient with trichinosis enters a chronic stage of the infection. During the chronic phase the patient may be relatively asymptomatic or may develop a variety of symptoms.
Clinical findings that may occur in the chronic phase of the infection:
(1) pneumonitis and/or pleuritis
(2) neurological findings
(2a) abnormal level of consciousness (may be overly excited or somnolent/apathetic)
(2b) facial nerve paresis
(2c) positive Babinski sign
(2d) paresthesias with formication (feeling like insects are crawling in the skin)
(3) anisocoria
(4) conjunctivitis
(5) excessive sweating
(6) impaired muscle strength
Imaging studies of the brain may show multiple small, subacute cortical infarcts.
The electromyelogram (EMG) may be abnormal for years after the acute infection.
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