Neurocysticercosis in children: experience in Medellín, Colombia 1989-1996

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis in children. Experience in Medellín, Colombia, 1989-1996 This is a retrospective clinical study of neurocisticercosis in patients aged 18 years or less, at Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paul, in Medellln, Colombia, during the period 1989-1996. There were 16 patients, 13 girls and 3 boys; average age was 11 years. The main complaints were: Seizures (68.8%), headache (62.5%) and visual disturbances (37.5%). Evolution of symptoms was less than three months in 81% of the patients. The most frequent syndromatic diagnoses were: Convulsive (68.8%) and intracraneal hypertension syndromes (43.8%). Computed tomography revealed intraparenchimal multiple lesions in 8 cases and solitary lesions in 4 cases. Treatment with albendazole (10 mg/kg/day) improved symptoms in every patient; children treated with antiparasitic drugs also received corticosteroids for 7 to 14 days. Seizures were easily controlled with anticonvulsivants such as carbamazepine and phenitoine. Prognosis was excellent in the majority of patients. Neurocysticercosis is rare in children; we did not find colombian studies about it during childhood and there are few articles on it in this age groups in the world literature.