title: [Clinical aspects of neurocysticercosis at semi-desert region of Brazilian northeast].
abstract: Case sheets of 44 patients with neurocysticercosis, coming from Campina Grande and others cities of Para ba state, examined between 1990 - 2001 were analyzed. The average age (SD +/-) was 20.6 +/- 14.3 years old, of which 54.5% were male. Thirty eight patients (86.2%) came from urban area. The initial symptom was convulsion in 90.9% of the cases and headaches in 9.1%. The epileptical form was present in 63.6% of the cases and the combined form in 22.3%. Computerized tomography of the skull was compatible with neurocysticercosis in 100% of the cases, showing calcification in (59.1%), integral cysts in (18.2%) and in degenerating in (20.4%), isolated or associated. The LCR performed on 29 patients showed alterations in 25 (86.2%) cases, predominating linfomonocitary pleocitose in 100% of the cases and positive immunological reactions in 64.3% of the cases. In conclusion neurocysticercosis is a frequent cause for convulsions in children and young adults in this region, and the ocorrence in urbane and rural areas denote the poor control of the taeniases/cistycercosis complex in this state.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Interna Social e Preventiva, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brasil. gracas.loureiro@bol.com.br
authors.forename: Maria das Graças Loureiro
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: das Chagas
authors.forename: Argemiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Oliveira Júnior
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tavares-Neto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000469:parasitology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics