[Neurocysticercosis: an imported disease?]

Abstract

Background: Neurocysticercosis is the CNS involvement caused by Taenia solium larvae and the most frequent cerebral parasitation. It has a cosmopolitan distribution but endemic in the low income countries. The paper analizes the geographic origin, clinical characteristics of patients and the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.

Patients and method: Retrospective revision of clinical files in patients with the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis between the period January 1990 to March 2000.

Results: Ten patients were included of which only one was of Spanish nationality. The others were immigrants or travellers to Central/South America (7), Africa (1) and South East Asia (1). Nine patients presented with convulsive crisis, generalized in 7 and 3 cases suffered headaches. The diagnosis was obtained through biopsy technique (3 cases) and the rest through CT scan or MR and serology. ELISA specific serology was positive in 60% of cases. Eight patients were treated with praziquantel or albendazol solely with good clinical evolution.

Conclusions: Neurocysticercosis is prevalent among the immigrant population and in our case imported mostly from Latin America. Diagnosis is reached through imaging and serological techniques. Treatment with praziquantel or albendazol improves the clinical picture and controls the convulsive crisis.