Taenia solium cysticercosis

Lancet. 2003 Aug 16;362(9383):547-56. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)14117-7.

Abstract

The larval stage of the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium) infects the human nervous system, causing neurocysticercosis. This disease is one of the main causes of epileptic seizures in many less developed countries and is also increasingly seen in more developed countries because of immigration from endemic areas. Little information is available on the natural evolution of taeniasis or cysticercosis. Available therapeutic measures include steroids, treatments for symptoms, surgery, and, more controversially, antiparasitic drugs to kill brain parasites. Efforts to control and eliminate this disease are underway through antiparasitic treatment of endemic populations, development of pig vaccines, and other measures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiparasitic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cost of Illness
  • Cysticercosis* / drug therapy
  • Cysticercosis* / epidemiology
  • Cysticercosis* / prevention & control
  • Developing Countries / economics
  • Developing Countries / statistics & numerical data
  • Epilepsy / etiology
  • Humans
  • Neurocysticercosis / drug therapy
  • Neurocysticercosis / epidemiology
  • Neurocysticercosis / prevention & control
  • Swine / parasitology
  • Swine Diseases / epidemiology
  • Swine Diseases / parasitology
  • Swine Diseases / prevention & control
  • Taenia solium
  • Taeniasis / drug therapy
  • Taeniasis / epidemiology
  • Taeniasis / prevention & control

Substances

  • Antiparasitic Agents