title: Parasitic diseases of the central nervous system: lessons for clinicians and policy makers.
abstract: Parasitic diseases of the central nervous system are associated with high mortality and morbidity, especially in resource-limited settings. The burden of these diseases is amplified as survivors are often left with neurologic sequelae affecting mobility, sensory organs, and cognitive functions, as well as seizures/epilepsy. These diseases inflict suffering by causing lifelong disabilities, reducing economic productivity, and causing social stigma. The complexity of parasitic life cycles and geographic specificities, as well as overlapping clinical manifestations in the host reflecting the diverse pathogenesis of parasites, can present diagnostic challenges. We herein provide an overview of these parasitic diseases and summarize clinical aspects, diagnosis, therapeutic strategies and recent milestones, and aspects related to prevention and control.
authors.affiliation: a Escuela de Medicina , Universidad de Cuenca , Cuenca , Ecuador.|b GH Sergievsky Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons , Columbia University , New York , NY , USA.|c Consultorios Sta Inés, F. Proaño y D. Cordova (esquina) , Cuenca , Ecuador.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carpio
authors.affiliation: d Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, CUNY School of Public Health, Hunter College , New York , NY , USA.|e Dirección de Investigación , Universidad de Cuenca , Cuenca , Ecuador.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Romo
authors.affiliation: f Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência , Oeiras , Portugal.
authors.forename: R M E
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Parkhouse
authors.affiliation: g World Health Organization (WHO Geneva) , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Brooke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Short
authors.affiliation: g World Health Organization (WHO Geneva) , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tarun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dua
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D020807:Central Nervous System Parasitic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents
keywords: Central nervous system; diagnosis; epilepsy; helminths; neglected diseases; parasites; parasitic diseases; parasitology; prevention & control; therapeutics