title: [Neurocysticercosis--pathogenesis and clinical aspects].
abstract: Neurocysticercosis is an infestation of the central nervous system with the larval cysts of the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium), when a man is paratenic host of the parasite. The infection results from ingestion of food or water contaminated with human feces containing the parasitic eggs. Much rarely, the infection is caused by autoinoculation, when the mature parasites are present in the small intestines, and reversed peristalsis gives rise to regurgitation of gravid proglottides (internal auto-infestation), or by ingestion of the eggs from one's own feces (external auto-infestation). The embryos (oncospheres) develop from the eggs, penetrating the small intestine mucosa and entering the circulation and subsequently different tissues and organs where cysticerci, small tissue larvae, are developed. Cysticerci have specific affinity for the central nervous system, eyes and striated muscles what is accounted for high concentration of glucose or glycogen in these organs. Neurocysticercosis is the most frequent parasitic disease of the central nervous system and the most common cause of convulsions and hydrocephalus in the adults in endemic regions, where the seroprevalence of disease is about 4% of population. Neurocysticercosis is classified into six clinical syndromes: asymptomatic, parenchymal, subarachnoid, intraventricular, spinal and ocular forms. Albendazole (benzimidazole) of 15 mg/kg/BW during 8-28 days or praziquantel (pyrazolone quinoline) of 50-60 mg/kg/BW during 15 days (or 100 mg/kg/BW only one day) are applied for treatment of neurocysticercosis.
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nikolić
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stevanović
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission