

Answer to Medical Mystery Monday #142


And the answer is…Neurocysticercosis!!! Great job mike s, F, colleen (with a little c), HeatherK, NG, Dave, Erin, ElleKay, LG, and Rich S.


Taenia Solium. Via

Taenia Solium. Via

Cysticercosis is a parasitic infection caused by taenia solium, or the pork tapeworm. Neurocysticercosis occurs when the parasite invades the brain or spinal cord. Humans become infected by ingesting the eggs of the taenia solium, usually due to poor hygiene and fecal contamination of food. While this disease is less common in the United States, it is relatively common in developing countries. Due to this fact, it is the most common parasitic infection of the nervous system and cause of acquired epilepsy in the world.

How the parasitic infection occurs. From

How the parasitic infection occurs. From

Once the eggs reach the acidic human stomach environment, they shed their protective capsule and turn into larval cysts. These cysts, called oncospheres, can cross the gastrointestinal tract and can migrate via the blood to many organs in the body. If and when oncospheres settle in the brain, they have four stages of development. The first is the vesicular, which is the viable larval cyst. As the cyst degenerates and dies, it progresses first to colloidal cyst, then later to a nodular/granular, and finally ends as a calcified granuloma.

The main symptom of neurocysticercosis is tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures, and less frequently headaches. Many people infected are asymptomatic and do not know they are contaminated.

Treatment varies depending on the stage of the cysts. Anticonvulsants can be prescribed to manage seizures, and depending on the stage of the cysts, antihelminthic treatments may be used. In rare cases, surgical intervention may be required. Thoroughly cooking meats and using proper hygiene is the easiest way to stop transmission and prevent the spread of disease.

I hope you enjoyed learning about this interesting disease. If you have any suggestions for future Medical Mysteries, please email me at Thanks for playing along!

Alexandra Taffany

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