[Neurologic and laboratory findings in a population of an endemic area for taeniasis-cysticercosis, Lagamar, MG, Brazil (1992-1993)]

Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 1994 Jul-Aug;36(4):335-42. doi: 10.1590/s0036-46651994000400006.
[Article in Portuguese]

Abstract

A clinic-epidemiological enquiry was conducted on in an endemic area for teniasis-cysticercosis. From the whole population 1080 (32.2%) individuals were examined. We found 198 (18.3%) individuals referring teniasis-bearing in the past, and 103 (9.5%) affirming to have had convulsions, either in the past or present. From the last group, 39 (37.8%) indicated that the crisis had begun in adulthood. From the group of patients presenting convulsions, 62 (62%) had laboratory tests performed. Computed tomography showed intracranial calcifications in 21 (33.8%) patients, variable in number and location, suggesting neurocysticercosis and no evidence of disease activity. Electroencephalograms showed abnormal waves in 21 (33.8%) patients and cerebrospinal fluid analyses were altered in 27 (43.5%) cases, having detected eosinophils only in 3 (4.8%) patients. Spinal fluid tests for cysticercosis through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or indirect immunofluorescence were taken in only 26 (41.9%) patients, obtaining positive results in 6 (23%) samples. Varying upward shifts of protein levels were found in spinal fluid analysis. Assuming that all epidemiologic risk factors for teniasis-cysticercosis in the studied region and its correlation with the laboratory alterations described in convulsing crisis, a prevalence of 1.9% for neurocysticercosis was found.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / complications
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / diagnosis
  • Central Nervous System Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cysticercosis / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Cysticercosis / complications
  • Cysticercosis / diagnosis
  • Cysticercosis / epidemiology*
  • Electroencephalography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Seizures / etiology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed