| What was once a trendy food a short time ago is | | | | The dead worms however stimulate an |
| now very mainstream. In restaurants in cities all | | | | inflammatory response which can cause allergic |
| over America, sushi and its cousin sashimi can be | | | | type symptoms. |
| found in Chinese buffets and Japanese sushi bars | | | | There is no antibiotic or other pill to take for |
| everywhere. You can even find it in your local | | | | treating Anisakis. Removing the worm surgically |
| supermarket. | | | | may be the only way to alleviate pain in very |
| The raw seafood used in these foods may | | | | severe cases. |
| contain parasitic worms that can cause relatively | | | | The good news is that this food borne illness is |
| mild to severe infections in humans. Anisakis | | | | quite rare in the United States with only |
| simplex is the most likely offender when it comes | | | | approximately 10 cases reported annually, though |
| to parasitic infections from these now common | | | | it is speculated that many mild cases are not |
| foods. | | | | reported. |
| Anisakis is a marine roundworm that can be found | | | | How do you prevent getting this potentially painful |
| in over 200 species of fish, eel and octopus. | | | | parasite? The Food and Drug Administration |
| When you eat raw seafood contaminated with | | | | recommends that all seafood intended for raw |
| this roundworm, you are ingesting live larval forms | | | | consumption be either blast frozen (-35ºC) |
| of the parasite. | | | | for at least 15 hours or regularly frozen for 7 |
| From as soon as 1 hour to 2 weeks after eating | | | | days which will kill the parasite. Go to reputable |
| the sushi, the symptoms may begin. The worms | | | | restaurants that surely follow these health and |
| typically attached themselves to the stomach | | | | safety guidelines. Don't prepare your own sushi |
| where vomiting and abdominal pain will ensue. | | | | from fish you caught yourself. |
| More severe symptoms may be abdominal pains | | | | This disease should be considered if you've had |
| resembling appendicitis and rarely bowel | | | | recently eaten sushi or sashimi and have |
| obstructions.. Typically in this country people | | | | symptoms of an allergic reaction with abdominal |
| discover they have this parasite when they feel a | | | | pain. |
| tickling sensation in the throat and actually cough | | | | As more and more people patronize restaurants |
| up the worm. | | | | that serve sushi, it is expected that the levels of |
| This parasite rarely achieves maturity in the | | | | Anisakiasis will increase in this country. |
| human host and eventually dies in a few weeks. | | | | |