Cysticercosis

Pathophysiology: Cysticercosis (cyst in various tissues) is a systemic infection caused by Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) at larval or metacestode stage, when humans ingest incompletely cooked beef or pork that is infected. The raw or undercooked meat contains cysticerci of tapeworm that develops in to a tapeworm invading muscles, tissues, brain, eyes, spine etc.

Treatment: Cysticercosis is treated with anti-parasitic (albendazole, niclosamide) drugs in combination with anti-inflammatory drugs; sometimes surgery may be required. Neurocysticercosis is treated with corticosteroids to reduce inflammation & anticonvulsants are used to prevent seizuers. More prolonged treatment courses (e.g. 30 days of albendazole, which may be repeated) may be needed for extraparenchymal or extensive disease. Albendazole is more likely to be effective against extraparenchymal forms of the disease because of better penetration than praziquantel into the CSF.

Statistics: WHO is piloting a strategy for the intensified control of T. solium taeniasis and (neuro) cysticercosis (by 2015) and scaling it up in selected endemic countries (by 2020) and Working with the veterinary and food safety authorities as well as with other sectors will be essential to attain the long-term outcomes of reducing the burden of disease. Population sampled in Mexico was 1,000 and found 12.2 % Human cysticercosis cases.