Cysticercosis is an infection by a parasite called Taenia solium (T solium). It is a pork tapeworm that creates cysts in different areas in the body.
Cysticercosis is caused by swallowing eggs from T solium. The eggs are found in contaminated food. Autoinfection is when a person who is already infected with adult T solium swallows its eggs. This occurs due to improper hand washing after a bowel movement (fecal-oral transmission).
Risk factors include eating pork, fruits, and vegetables contaminated with T solium as a result of undercooking or improper food preparation. The disease can also be spread by contact with infected feces.
The disease is rare in the United States. It is common in many developing countries.
Most often, the worms stay in muscles and do not cause symptoms.
Symptoms occur depending on where the infection is found in the body:
Treatment may involve:
If the cyst is in the eye or brain, steroids should be started a few days before other medicines to avoid problems caused by swelling during antiparasitic treatment. Not all people benefit from antiparasitic treatment.
Sometimes, surgery may be needed to remove the infected area.
Hector Garcia practices in Lima, Peru. Garcia is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Cysticercosis. He is also highly rated in 17 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Cysticercosis, Helminthiasis, Echinococcosis, and Fish Tapeworm Infection.
Pierre Dorny practices in Gent, Belgium. Dorny is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Cysticercosis. He is also highly rated in 10 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Cysticercosis, Helminthiasis, Trichinosis, and Toxoplasmosis.
Agnes Fleury practices in Mexico, Mexico. Fleury is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Cysticercosis. She is also highly rated in 2 other conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Cysticercosis, Helminthiasis, Epilepsy, and Hydrocephalus.
The outlook is good, unless the lesion has caused blindness, heart failure, or brain damage. These are rare complications.
Complications may include:
If you have any symptoms of cysticercosis, contact your health care provider.
Avoid unwashed foods, do not eat uncooked foods while traveling, and always wash fruits and vegetables well.
Summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate, treat and follow patients with cysticercosis, an infection with the larval form of the pork tapeworm, T. solium. When people ingest cysts of T. solium eggs, cysts develop in the muscles, brain and other organs. The cysts enlarge and cause inflammation, usually in the brain. Patients may develop seizures, headache, nausea, vomiting, inability to walk, poor ...
Summary: Neurocysticercosis(NCC) is the commonest parasitic infection of the central nervous system. It is the commonest cause of focal seizures in India. It can also present with headaches, movement disorders, stroke, cognitive decline and multitude of complications depending on its location. Parenchymal NCC is more common than extraparenchymal NCC. There is considerable variation in the treatment practic...
Published Date: November 23, 2021
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
White AC, Brunetti E. Cestodes. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 333.
White AC, Fischer PR. Cysticercosis. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 329.