Cysticercosis is caused by ingesting tapeworm eggs and can lead to lesions in body tissue visible on medical scans. It is often caused by eating undercooked pork or unwashed vegetables. Symptoms include seizures and vision problems. Treatment involves medication and steroids.
Cysticercosis is an infection that results from ingesting a type of tapeworm, Taenia solium. As tapeworm eggs hatch and mature inside a person, they migrate from the gastrointestinal tract into muscle and organ tissue. Cysticercosis can lead to the development of lesions in body tissue that are visible on medical imaging scans. Most cases cause no obvious symptoms, although an infection that reaches the brain can lead to seizures, vision problems, and permanent brain damage. Doctors usually treat cysticercosis with oral medications to destroy the parasites and steroids to reduce organ inflammation.
Most cases of cysticercosis occur when people eat undercooked pork or unwashed vegetables that are grown in soil contaminated with pig feces. The condition is more common in underdeveloped countries and places where there are few restrictions on safe farming and farming practices. After the eggs are ingested, they attach themselves to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, hatch into larvae, and travel to other parts of the body.
Cysticercosis gets its name from the cysts that the larvae create as they mature into adult tapeworms. Cysts most commonly appear in muscle and fatty tissue within the body and usually cause no physical symptoms. It is possible for the larvae to migrate into the eye, where they can cause blurred vision and damage to the retina which can lead to blindness. Tapeworms that travel to the spinal cord or brain cause a condition called neurocysticercosis and can cause chronic headaches, nausea, vomiting, and seizures. Neurocysticercosis is considered an emergency condition and immediate medical attention is needed to prevent permanent damage to the nervous system.
A doctor can check for cysts in the brain and other parts of the body by doing computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Positive CT and MRI results clearly show lesions and surrounding inflammation in body tissue. Blood and stool samples are usually collected so that laboratory scientists can confirm the presence of pork tapeworm.
Treatment for cysticercosis depends on the severity of the symptoms and the location of the cysts. Tapeworms in the muscles or gastrointestinal tract usually respond to oral medications called anthelmintics. If there is inflammation of the heart or other internal organs, a doctor may give oral or intravenous steroids to reduce swelling. Neurocysticercosis often requires hospitalization so that doctors can monitor symptoms and ensure that vital signs remain stable. Anticonvulsant drugs are commonly given to help prevent seizures. With prompt treatment, most patients are able to recover without suffering any permanent health problems.
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