[Trichinosis: review of the epidemic in the south suburbs of Paris in January, 1976 (apropos of 125 cases)].

The authors report the results of the trichinosis epidemic which occurred in the southern suburbs of Paris in January 1976. 125 patients from a total of 65 families were affected. The major signs: oedema of the face and eyelids, fever and myalgia, were commonly found. There were even laboratory abnormalities with eosinophilia, increase in muscle enzymes and positive specific serology. The course over a period of months was very favourable. There were no deaths. The most severe symptoms rapidly regressed. Only myalgia and headache, and above all fatugie, persisted for 3 to 4 months, in the adults. The biological course was marked by the disappearance in one month of the majority of the disturbances seen in the acute phase, apart from the eosinophilia and serological findings which remained pathological after one year in a number of cases. The particular aetiology, due to horsemeat, may be explained by modern industrial rearing techniques and the complexity of current commercial circuits.