Title
Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Neurocysticercosis
Date Issued
01 December 2016
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
review
Author(s)
University of Texas Medical Branch
Publisher(s)
Current Medicine Group LLC 1
Abstract
Neurocysticercosis is an important cause of seizures worldwide and is endemic in most of Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, India, and China. Neurocysticercosis has profoundly different disease manifestations varying from asymptomatic presentation to life-threatening hydrocephalus. Clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, diagnostic methods, and optimal treatment vary with the location, number of lesions, and host response. Diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical presentation, neuroimaging findings, history of exposure, and serologic testing. Initial therapy should be focused on symptom management including seizure control and management of increased intracranial pressure. Emerging data are demonstrating that the optimal management approach varies with stage. Single enhancing or cystic lesions should be treated with albendazole and steroids. Patients with more than two cystic lesions should be treated with combination therapy with albendazole and praziquantel, whereas patients with hydrocephalus benefit from surgical management, especially with minimally invasive approaches.
Volume
18
Issue
12
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Parasitología Ciencias de la salud
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84994051898
Source
Current Infectious Disease Reports
ISSN of the container
15233847
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus