title: A case of imported neurocysticercosis in Portugal.
abstract: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common cause of acquired epilepsy in resource-poor countries. We report the case of a 24-year-old woman born and residing in Guinea-Bissau, who was transferred to Portugal two months after the onset of a possible meningitis (fever, headache, seizures, and coma) that did not respond to antibiotic treatment. The diagnosis of NCC was confirmed by MR imaging, which showed multiple lesions compatible with cysticercus, and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the cerebrospinal fluid. After 28 days on albendazole and dexamethasone without improvement, she was started on praziquantel, which she completed in six weeks with progressive recovery.
authors.affiliation: Clínica Universitária de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. evaladas@medicina.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valadas
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Badura
authors.forename: Tiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neno
authors.forename: Márcia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boura
authors.forename: Ana Filipa
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Sutre
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beato
authors.forename: Maria Amélia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grácio
authors.forename: José Cordeiro
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Neves
mesh_terms: D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006169:Guinea-Bissau; D006257:Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D020019:Neurocysticercosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011174:Portugal; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel