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. 2007 Feb;13(2):230-5.
doi: 10.3201/eid1302.060527.

Deaths from cysticercosis, United States

Frank J Sorvillo  1 , Christopher DeGiorgio, Stephen H Waterman
Affiliations

Deaths from cysticercosis, United States

Frank J Sorvillo et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007 Feb.

Abstract

Cysticercosis has emerged as a cause of severe neurologic disease in the United States. We evaluated cysticercosis-related deaths in the United States for 1990-2002 by race, sex, age, state of residence, country of birth, and year of death. A total of 221 cysticercosis deaths were identified. Mortality rates were highest for Latinos (adjusted rate ratio [ARR] 94.5, relative to whites) and men (ARR = 1.8). The mean age at death was 40.5 years (range 2-88). Most patients (187 [84.6%]) were foreign born, and 137 (62%) had emigrated from Mexico. The 33 US-born persons who died of cysticercosis represented 15% of all cysticercosis-related deaths. The cysticercosis mortality rate was highest in California, which accounted for = 60% of all deaths. Although uncommon, cysticercosis is a cause of premature death in the United States. Fatal cysticercosis affected mainly immigrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries; however, US-born persons were also affected.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Frequency and percentage of fatal cysticercosis cases by state, United States, 1990–2002. Shaded areas indicate states with deaths from cysticercosis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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