A case of imported neurocysticercosis in Portugal

Authors

  • Emilia Valadas Clínica Universitária de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Robert Badura Clínica Universitária de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Tiago Marques Clínica Universitária de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Miguel Neno Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Márcia Boura Clínica Universitária de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Ana Filipa Sutre Clínica Universitária de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Sílvia Beato Unidade de Parasitologia Médica/Unidade de Parasitologia e Microbiologia Médicas (UPMM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal
  • Maria Amélia Grácio Unidade de Parasitologia Médica/Unidade de Parasitologia e Microbiologia Médicas (UPMM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (UNL), Lisboa, Portugal
  • José Cordeiro Neves Clínica Universitária de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.5032

Keywords:

neurocysticercosis, Taenia solium, Portugal, Guinea-Bissau

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common cause of acquired epilepsy in resource-poor countries. We report the case of a 24-year-old woman born and residing in Guinea-Bissau, who was transferred to Portugal two months after the onset of a possible meningitis (fever, headache, seizures, and coma) that did not respond to antibiotic treatment. The diagnosis of NCC was confirmed by MR imaging, which showed multiple lesions compatible with cysticercus, and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the cerebrospinal fluid. After 28 days on albendazole and dexamethasone without improvement, she was started on praziquantel, which she completed in six weeks with progressive recovery.

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Published

2015-01-15

How to Cite

1.
Valadas E, Badura R, Marques T, Neno M, Boura M, Sutre AF, Beato S, Grácio MA, Neves JC (2015) A case of imported neurocysticercosis in Portugal. J Infect Dev Ctries 9:114–117. doi: 10.3855/jidc.5032

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 01: January 2015

Section

Case Reports

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