Neurocysticercosis in radiographically imaged seizure patients in U.S. emergency departments.
Neurocysticercosis appears to be on the rise in the United States, based on immigration patterns and published cases series, including reports of domestic acquisition. We used a collaborative network of U.S. emergency departments to characterize the epidemiology of neurocysticercosis in seizure patients. Data were collected prospectively at 11 university-affiliated, geographically diverse, urban U.S. emergency departments from July 1996 to September 1998. Patients with a seizure who underwent neuroimaging were included. Of the 1,801 patients enrolled in the study, 38 (2.1%) had seizures attributable to neurocysticercosis. The disease was detected in 9 of the 11 sites and was associated with Hispanic ethnicity, immigrant status, and exposure to areas where neurocysticercosis is endemic. This disease appears to be widely distributed and highly prevalent in certain populations (e.g., Hispanic patients) and areas (e.g., Southwest).
Ong
Samuel
S
Olive View-University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center, Sylmar, California 91342, USA. Samong@ucla.edu
Talan
David A
DA
Moran
Gregory J
GJ
Mower
William
W
Newdow
Michael
M
Tsang
Victor C W
VC
Pinner
Robert W
RW
D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D003710:Demography; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D013621:Taenia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth