The tapeworm eggs hatch in the intestine and spread throughout the body, including the brain, where they cause the most problems. Neurocysticercosis most often spreads from person to person. “Neurocysticercosis is an important problem in the United States and the right diagnosis and treatment are critical, which is why it requires management by a team that includes infectious diseases specialists, neurologists and often neurosurgeons.” Clinton White, MD, lead author of the guidelines and professor of infectious diseases at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. “Forms of the infection can range from single cysts that may be relatively harmless to blockages in the ventricles that cause pressure and fluid on the brain and can be deadly if they’re not surgically removed,” said A. Treatment varies according to the specific form of neurocysticercosis and ranges from steroids, anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) and anti-parasitic medications to surgery, note the guidelines. Most are people who have traveled to the United States from developing countries in Latin America, Africa or Asia, where the tapeworm is common. Identifying the infection – called neurocysticercosis – is key to ensuring appropriate treatment, according to the first comprehensive guidelines on the condition, released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) and published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.Įvery year in the United States more than 2,000 people are hospitalized with neurocysticercosis at a cost of $100 million. – Brain cysts from a pork tapeworm infection are one of the most common causes of seizures worldwide. Neurocysticercosis should be managed by a multidisciplinary team including infectious diseases specialists, neurologists, and, in some cases, neurosurgeons.ĪRLINGTON, Va. ![]() Treatment ranges from anti-epileptic and anti-parasitic drugs to surgery.More than 2,000 people in the United States are hospitalized for neurocysticercosis every year. ![]()
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