Neurocysticercosis: Work ability evaluation

Neurocysticercosis is the term used for human CNS involvement with T. solium cysts. Intraparenchymal cerebral cysts usually enlarge slowly, causing minimal or no symptoms, until years or decades after the onset of infection. Clinical manifestations vary from focal or generalized seisures to sensomotor deficits, intellectual impairment, psychiatric disorders and symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Work ability was evaluated in 12 patients treated for cysticercosis during 2005 and 2006. In all patient examinations for NCC were conducted in regional health centers, and all were referred to a hospital for further diagnosis and therapy. Diagnosis was made by the following clinical criteria: neurological disorder, CT and / or MRI typical findings, followed by the test for specific antibodies. We evaluated the period from the first complaints that could be connected with the diagnosis to the moment when diagnosis was made, and severity of symptoms like vertigo, headache, vision disorders and unconsciousness. Considering neurocysticercosis as a slowly progressing infection of the CNS, with an evolution period of more than several years, and the mean period of unrecognized complaints of 28 months, we suggest that all of neurological or psychiatric complaints in our surroundings, specially where breeding of pigs is widely spread, should be evaluated for cysticercosis.