Journal Article

Neurocysticercosis: Diagnostic problems & current therapeutic strategies

Rajshekhar, Vedantam

2016

Overview

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common single cause of seizures/epilepsy in India and several other endemic countries throughout the world. It is also the most common parasitic disease of the brain caused by the cestode Taenia solium or pork tapeworm. The diagnosis of NCC and the tapeworm carrier (taeniasis) can be relatively inaccessible and expensive for most of the patients. In spite of the introduction of several new immunological tests, neuroimaging remains the main diagnostic test for NCC. The treatment of NCC is also mired in controversy although, there is emerging evidence that albendazole (a cysticidal drug) may be beneficial for patients by reducing the number of seizures and hastening the resolution of live cysts. Currently, there are several diagnostic and management issues which remain unresolved. This review will highlight some of these issues.

• Publisher: Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd,Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd,Scientific Scholar,Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
• Subject: Albendazole - therapeutic use / Animals / Brain - parasitology / Brain - physiopathology / Convulsions & seizures / Cysticercosis / Cysts / Endoscopy / Epilepsy / Epilepsy - diagnosis / Epilepsy - drug therapy / Epilepsy - parasitology / Humans / Immunology / India / Medical imaging / Microscopy / Neurocysticercosis - diagnosis / Neurocysticercosis - drug therapy / Neurocysticercosis - epidemiology / Neurocysticercosis - parasitology / NMR / Nuclear magnetic resonance / Patients / Physiological aspects / Red Meat - parasitology / Review / Surgery / Swine - parasitology / Taenia solium - pathogenicity