Neurocysticercosis, unusual manifestations

Abstract

CASE REPORT | Abstract |Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection in the central nervous system. This disease is presented when a person ingests Taenia solium eggs excreted in feces from another individual infected with taeniasis. In 50% of the cases, neurocysticercosis takes place in the brain parenchyma, and its appearance is less frequent in the posterior fossa and the spinal cord.The case of a patient with an atypical location of the parasite at the medulla oblongata, between parenchymal and spinal areas, is presented. The initial symptoms were common but its subsequent manifestations were similar to those of Bruns syndrome. Furthermore, the epidemiological profile of neurocysticercosis in Colombia, its control measures and prevention strategies were reviewed in this study. Keywords | Resumen |La neurocisticercosis es la infección parasitaria más frecuente en el sistema nervioso central; esta enfermedad se desarrolla cuando los huevos de Taenia solium excretados en heces de un individuo con teniasis son ingeridos por otra persona. La presentación de la neurocisticercosis tiene lugar en el parénquima cerebral en 50% de los casos, mientras que en la fosa posterior y en la médula espinal es menos frecuente.Se presenta el caso de un paciente que tuvo una ubicación exótica del parásito a nivel del bulbo raquídeo concomitando con la forma parenquimatosa y medular; las manifestaciones clínicas iniciales fueron las comunes, pero sus síntomas posteriores se caracterizaron por el síndrome de Bruns. Además, durante la investigación se revisó el perfil epidemiológico de la neurocisticercosis en Colombia y las medidas de control y de prevención. IntroductionThe most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system (CNS) is neurocysticercosis (NCC), caused by the larvae of the Taenia solium (1). In developing countries, there is a 90% prevalence of cases in which this disease is neglected (2), but due to the ease and accessibility of transportation and the large groups of migrant population, this disease can also be found in developed countries (3,4). The World Health Organization (WHO) considers cysticercosis as a serious public health issue (5,6). This infection appears in the brain parenchyma in 50% of cases, and less frequently, in intraventricular, subarachnoid, eye and cord areas (6).The case described in this research presents an unusual appearance in the medulla oblongata, along with the parenchymal and spinal form. NCC symptoms are very diverse, including, among the most frequently observed and described by the authors, headaches and convulsions (7). 80% of infections are completely asymptomatic and when symptoms arise, they are non-specific depending on the number of injuries, the development stage of the cysticercus and the larval location (8). The presence of cysticerci in the brain may be prolonged -10 to 20 years in asymptomatic state-(9,10) although, in many occasions, when headaches occur, this symptom is not considered important. The diagnosis of NCC is often confused with incide...

Recurrent neurocysticercosis of the frontal lobe. Case report

“…(12,13) The patient and his relatives were given the pertinent recommendations and measures to prevent the disease: correct hand washing (soap and water or glycerinated alcohol) before and after consuming food and after contact with another person (4); adequate disposal of feces in the rural area; exclusive consumption of drinking water; environmental sanitation, and management of pigs under the current regulations. (9,14) The signs and symptoms of NCC depend on the location, number, dimensions, cysticercus stage (vesicular, colloidal, granular-nodular and calcified nodule), genotype and immune status of the host. (4) Headaches and seizures are the most frequent clinical manifestations; visual or psychiatric disorders, hydrocephalus and meningitis may also occur.…”

A Case of Neurocysticercosis in a Teenager

“…In this case, the definitive diagnosis of NCC with MRI was achieved due to the presence of focal lesions in left frontal subcortical topical topography and right basal frontal peri ependymal in different evolutionary stages, which due to the clinic antiparasitic management was initiated as referred to in the literature with cytocidal drugs currently recommended by experts in parasitology. infectious diseases and neurology [13].…”

La neurocisticercosis en Colombia: otra enfermedad desatendida

“…Además de epilepsia, la neurocisticercosis se ha descrito asociada a otros síndromes neurológicos, como demencia, déficit de atención y ataque cerebrovascular (4-7). En Colombia se han reportado casos de ubicaciones inusuales de localización de los quistes, como bulbo raquídeo, causando síndrome de Bruns, o médula espinal (8,9). 100.000 habitantes (hombres 5,9, mujeres 8,1).…”