Neurocysticercosis - Symptoms

Symptoms of Neurocysticercosis / Cysticercosis of Brain / Pork Tapeworm

In many patients the cysts remain asymptomatic. When the cyst starts to degenerate that symptoms appear.

In India 'Solitary Cystic Granuloma' or (SCG) is most commonly encountered, while in other parts of the world multiple cysts are frequently seen.

Neurocysticercosis is a complication of the pork tapeworm infection. In many patients the cysts remain asymptomatic. The viable cyst generally does not cause any symptoms; it is only when the cyst starts to degenerate that symptoms appear. The tapeworm when in the intestinal tract can give rise to several symptoms:

Some of the common ones are-

• Seizures, usually focal; partial but may also be generalised.
• Headache

• Visual disturbances
• Nausea
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea
• Rarely may manifest as a psychiatric illness

• Accumulation of fluid or Hydrocephalus may result from obstruction to the flow of the lubricating fluid of the brain (cerebrospinal fluid) by the cysticerci.

However, amongst rare incidences (less than 20% cases), the following abnormal manifestations occur-

• Cognitive decline
• Dysarthria
• Extraocular movement palsy or paresis
• Hemiparesis or hemiplegia, which may be related to stroke, or Todd paralysis
• Hemisensory loss
• Movement disorders
• Hyper/hyporeflexia
• Gait disturbances

When these infection develop in the base of the brain or in the subarachnoid space they may cause chronic meningitis or arachnoiditis communicating hydrocephalus or strokes.

The clinical manifestations of pork tapeworm infection or cysticercosis depends on the number and the location of cysticerci as well as the extent of inflammation. As it has a long incubation period the symptoms do not appear until many years after infection with the tapeworm.

Neurocysticercosis / Cysticercosis of Brain / Pork Tapeworm - References

1. Parasites - (http://www.cdc.gov/Ncidod/dpd/parasites/ cysticercosis/factsht_cysticercosis.htm)
2. Bern C, Garcia HH, Evans C, Gonzalez AE, Verastegui M, Tsang VC, et al. Magnitude of the disease burden from neurocysticercosis in a developing country.Clin Infect Dis 1999;29:1203-9.
3. Sarti E, Schantz PM, Plancarte A, Wilson M, Gutierrez IO, Lopez AS, et al. Prevalence and risk factors for Taenia solium taeniasis and cysticercosis in humans and pigs in a village in Morelos, Mexico. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1992;46:677-85.
4. Medina MT, Rosas E, Rubio-Donnadieu F, Sotelo J. Neurocysticercosis as the main cause of late-onset epilepsy in Mexico. Arch Intern Med 1990;150:325-7.
5. International League Against Epilepsy. Relationship between epilepsy and tropical disease. Epilepsia 1994;35: 89-93.
6. Eucestoda - (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapeworm)



Cite this Article ⇣⇡

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

• APA

  Avinash Ramani. (2017, February 20). Symptoms of Neurocysticercosis / Cysticercosis of Brain / Pork Tapeworm. Medindia. Retrieved on Dec 16, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/symptoms-of-neurocysticercosis.htm.

• MLA

  Avinash Ramani. "Symptoms of Neurocysticercosis / Cysticercosis of Brain / Pork Tapeworm". Medindia. Dec 16, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/symptoms-of-neurocysticercosis.htm>.

• Chicago

  Avinash Ramani. "Symptoms of Neurocysticercosis / Cysticercosis of Brain / Pork Tapeworm". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/symptoms-of-neurocysticercosis.htm. (accessed Dec 16, 2024).

• Harvard

  Avinash Ramani. 2017. Symptoms of Neurocysticercosis / Cysticercosis of Brain / Pork Tapeworm. Medindia, viewed Dec 16, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/health/conditions/symptoms-of-neurocysticercosis.htm.