The clinical spectrum of neurocysticercosis in the Uttaranchal region.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical and radiological spectrum of neurocysticercosis in the Uttaranchal region. METHODS: A total of 592 patients of neurocysticercosis attending various health camps, medical outdoor and indoor department were studied for their clinical and radiological presentation. RESULTS: Out of the total 15,000 patients screened, 592 patients (3.94%) were found to be suffering from neurocysticercosis. Majority of them were in the age group of 21-30 years. Most of them presented with generalized seizures (62.5%), others had headache (37.5%), focal seizures (20.8%), localizing neurological signs (16.6%), meningitis (4.1%), and dementia (1.3%). Radiologically, parenchymal lesions were most prevalent (81%). However, interventricular lesions were also not very uncommon (32%). Most of them had single lesions (53.5%), 26.7% had multiple lesions and 0.7% had midline shift. Significantly, large number of patients were vegetarians (39%); only 17.6% were pork eaters while the remaining 82.4% never had pork in their meals. CONCLUSION: We believe that such high percentage is at least a rough indicator of high incidence and prevalence of neurocysticercosis in the Uttaranchal region. They had wide range of clinical and radiological presentation. Small number of pork eaters and a significant number of vegetarians suggest other modes of transmission and needs further evaluation.