[Risk factors associated with neurocysticercosis in a public hospital in Mexico].
OBJECTIVE
A case-control study was carried out to determine risk factors associated with neurocysticercosis in a public hospital in Mexico.


METHODS
The following factors were analyzed: Socioeconomic, sociodemographic, hygiene, eating habits, and family history of neurocysticercosis in 85 cases and 170 controls. Cases were patients with cranial computed tomography images compatible with neurocysticercosis. The densitometric analysis (Hounsfield units) allowed us to distinguish normal tissue from physiological and pathological calcifications, and other types of lesions. Controls were admitted for neurocysticercosis but findings were not compatible with initial diagnosis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS and Epi-info 2002.


RESULTS
The most common clinical manifestation in patients was epileptic seizures OR=4.2 (IC 95% 2.40-9.67). With regards to risk factors, consumption of street food OR=2.33 (IC 95% 1.25-4.38), and family history of neurocysticercosis OR= 2.37 (IC 95% 1.11-5.04) were found to be associated with neurocysticercosis. In the north central region of Mexico where this study was performed, the disease was more frequent among urban populations.
Ortiz-Trejo
Juan Manuel
JM
Unidad de Investigación Médica de Zacatecas, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, México. juan.ortizt@imss.gob.mx
Correa-Chacón
Arnulfo Joel
AJ
Sctelo-Ham
Elma Ivonne
EI
Torres-Valenzuela
Alejandro
A
Alvarado-Esquivel
Cosme
C
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors