Complete Information on Anisakiasis with Treatment and Prevention

 Anisakiasis is the disease caused by infection with Anisakis worms. It is frequently reported in areas of the world where fish is consumed raw, lightly pickled or salted. The disease is caused by the ingestion of larval nematodes in raw seafood dishes such as sushi, sashimi, ceviche, and pickled herring. They are infective to humans and cause Anisakiasis, and fish which have been infected with Anisakis spp. can produce an anaphylactic reaction in people who have become sensitized to Immunoglobulin E. Anisakis spp. have a complex life cycle which passes through a number of hosts through the course of its life. Aniskiasis is contracted when inadequately cooked fish containing these nematode larvae are eaten. Infection is diagnosed after surgical intervention for intestinal obstruction or peritonitis, which is caused by necrotizing, eosinophilic, granulomatous inflammation.

The patients recover generally without further proof material of sickness. The maggots can invasief become, however, and beyond flatulence migrate, which penetrates the bowel, omentum, liver, pancreas, and probably the lungs. Anisakiasis share the common features of all nematodes, the vermiform body plan, round in cross section and a lack of segmentation. The body cavity is reduced to a narrow pseudocoel. The mouth located anteriorly, and surrounded by projections used in feeding and sensation, with the anus slightly offset from the posterior. People who are sensitized to nematodes can have severe anaphylactic reactions after eating fish which have been infected with Anisakis spp. This is often confused with a fish or shellfish allergy, as the allergenic components of Anisakids are difficult to test for and often produce a reaction in tests for other allergens.

In humans, anisakiasis can produce a strict syndrome, that the stomach and the intestines affected or in a mild chronic illness, which can, for weeks or years last. Within the hours after income of the sticking on larvae, can the violent abdominal pain, which arises to nausea and vomiting. Occasionally the larvae are coughed up. If the larvae pass into the bowel, a severe eosinophilic granulomatous response may also occur. Because symptoms are vague, this disease is often misdiagnosed as appendicitis, acute abdomen, stomach ulcers, or ileitis. Anisakiasis can mimic other diseases, such as acute appendicitis, stomach tumors, and inflammatory bowel disease. Diagnosis is usually made by upper endoscopy, stool examination is unhelpful, but a serologic test is available in some countries. Infection typically resolves spontaneously after several weeks but rarely persists for months.

Infections of the small intestine, caecum, or colon are usually not diagnosed before exploratory laparotomy. Treatment therefore in the vast majority of cases is symptomatic, with a heavy dose of re-assurance. The only indication for treatment is small bowel obstruction due to Anisakis larvae, which may require emergency surgery. Patients with an intestinal obstruction caused by ascariasis may be given nasogastric suction, followed by anthelminthic drugs, in order to avoid surgery. If suction fails, the worms must be removed surgically to prevent intestinal rupture or blockage. Surgery is often necessary for treatment of invasive anisakiasis. Treatment with anthelminthic drugs does not prevent reinfection. With the increase in popularity of eating lightly cooked or raw fish dishes, the number of cases of anisakiasis may be expected to increase.