[Neurocysticercosis in children: clinical study and follow-up of 112 patients]. / Neurocisticercosis en la infancia: estudio clínico y seguimiento de 112 casos.

INTRODUCTION: Neurocysticercosis (NC) is the infection of the central nervous system caused by the Taenia solium larva. It is related to a wide variety of clinical symptoms and pathological findings. AIM: Clinical study, diagnosis, treatment and evolution of 112 patients with NC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 112 patients with NC, between 1 and 14 years of age, were evaluated and followed from 18 months up to 13 years. RESULTS: The most common clinical symptoms were epileptic seizures and signs of intracranial hypertension. The disease progressed as follows: active forms were seen in around 39% of the cases (viable cysts in 3% and transitional/granulomatous form in 36%), encephalitic form in 22% and inactive form (calcifications) in 39%. In the great majority of the cases, a treatment with anti-helmitic was not used. The control of the crises was positive in 86% of the cases -94% in the transitional forms, 93% in the inactive forms and 68% in the encephalitic form-. Recurrence of crises happened after suspension of the medication in 12,5% of the granulomatous form and in 11,2% of the inactive form. Neurological sequelae occurred only in the encephalitic form (12/25 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical findings and clinical evolution of neurocysticercosis in children is related to the evolutive form of the disease. The clinical evolution, including control of the crises and radiological control, is benign in the inactive and active forms, except in the encephalitic forms. The extraparenquimatous form is quite rare in the pediatric group.

Neurocisticercosis en la infancia: estudio clínico y seguimiento de 112 casos / Neurocysticercosis in children: clinical study and follow-up of 112 patients

Introducción. La neurocisticercosis (NC) es la infeccióndel sistema nervioso central causada por larva de la Taenia solium.Está relacionada con una amplia variedad de manifestaciones clínicasy hallazgos patológicos. Objetivo. Estudio clínico, diagnóstico,tratamiento y evolución de 112 pacientes con NC. Pacientes y métodos.112 pacientes con NC de 1 a 14 años de edad, seguidos entre 18meses y 13 años. Resultados. los síntomas clínicos más comunes fueroncrisis epilépticas y signos de hipertensión endocraneal. Conrelación a la evolución de la enfermedad se encontraron formas activasen el 39% de los casos (quiste viable en el 3% y forma de transición/granular en el 36%), forma encefalítica en el 22% e inactiva(calcificaciones) en el 39%. En la gran mayoría de los pacientes nose realizó tratamiento con antihelmínticos. El control de las crisis selogró en el 86% de los casos –94% en las formas de transición, 93%en las formas inactivas y 68% en la forma encefalítica–. La recidivade las crisis después de la suspensión de la medicación ocurrió en12,5% en la forma granular y 11,2% en la forma inactiva. Sólo en laforma encefalítica se vieron secuelas neurológicas (12/25 pacientes).Conclusiones. Los hallazgos y la evolución clínica de la neurocisticercosisen la infancia están asociados con la forma evolutiva de laenfermedad. La evolución clínica, incluido el control de las crisis eimágenes, es benigna en las formas inactivas y activas, excepto enlas formas encefalíticas. La forma extraparenquimatosa es rara enla edad pediátrica

Introduction. Neurocysticercosis (NC) is the infection of the central nervous system caused by the Taenia soliumlarva. It is related to a wide variety of clinical symptoms and pathological findings. Aim. Clinical study, diagnosis, treatmentand evolution of 112 patients with NC. Patients and methods. 112 patients with NC, between 1 and 14 years of age, wereevaluated and followed from 18 months up to 13 years. Results. The most common clinical symptoms were epileptic seizuresand signs of intracranial hypertension. The disease progressed as follows: active forms were seen in around 39% of the cases(viable cysts in 3% and transitional/granulomatous form in 36%), encephalitic form in 22% and inactive form (calcifications)in 39%. In the great majority of the cases, a treatment with anti-helmitic was not used. The control of the crises was positivein 86% of the cases –94% in the transitional forms, 93% in the inactive forms and 68% in the encephalitic form–. Recurrenceof crises happened after suspension of the medication in 12,5% of the granulomatous form and in 11,2% of the inactive form.Neurological sequelae occurred only in the encephalitic form (12/25 patients). Conclusions. Clinical findings and clinicalevolution of neurocysticercosis in children is related to the evolutive form of the disease. The clinical evolution, includingcontrol of the crises and radiological control, is benign in the inactive and active forms, except in the encephalitic forms. Theextraparenquimatous form is quite rare in the pediatric group