Neurocysticercosis Encephalitis in a Child with Disseminated Cysticercosis

Background: Cysticercosis, a common parasitic infestation in endemic regions, may rarely cause widespread dissemination throughout the body resulting in disseminated cysticercosis (DCC), scarcely reported in children. Clinical Description: An 8-year-old boy from rural India presented with a 2-week h...

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Main Authors: Mritunjay Kumar, P. Sunny Sukumar, Arvind Kumar Suman, Ashish Upadhyay, Pragati Garg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-11-01
Series:Indian Pediatrics Case Reports
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ipcares.ipcares_179_24
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author Mritunjay Kumar
P. Sunny Sukumar
Arvind Kumar Suman
Ashish Upadhyay
Pragati Garg
author_facet Mritunjay Kumar
P. Sunny Sukumar
Arvind Kumar Suman
Ashish Upadhyay
Pragati Garg
author_sort Mritunjay Kumar
collection DOAJ
description Background: Cysticercosis, a common parasitic infestation in endemic regions, may rarely cause widespread dissemination throughout the body resulting in disseminated cysticercosis (DCC), scarcely reported in children. Clinical Description: An 8-year-old boy from rural India presented with a 2-week history of headache, abnormal movements, intermittent fever, vomiting, and altered sensorium. Clinical examination revealed generalized hypertonia and signs of raised intracranial pressure. Brain imaging displayed a “starry sky” pattern indicative of neurocysticercosis (NCC) encephalitis. Further imaging revealed cystic lesions throughout the thoracic, abdominal, and paraspinal muscles, confirming DCC. Management and Outcome: The patient was managed with intravenous methylprednisolone, antiepileptics, and acetazolamide, avoiding albendazole due to the risk of exacerbating cerebral edema. The patient regained consciousness after the fifth pulse of steroids and progressively improved thereafter being asymptomatic and seizure-free at the last follow-up, 3 months after discharge. Conclusion: This case creates awareness regarding a rare entity of NCC encephalitis seen in DCC. The condition may be considered in children presenting with encephalopathy in endemic regions. Supportive treatment with steroids without antiparasitic treatment may be successful.
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spelling doaj-art-8a6b4098e6a34891aa8e9ced551b86d82025-08-20T02:22:10ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Pediatrics Case Reports2772-51702772-51892024-11-014424424710.4103/ipcares.ipcares_179_24Neurocysticercosis Encephalitis in a Child with Disseminated CysticercosisMritunjay KumarP. Sunny SukumarArvind Kumar SumanAshish UpadhyayPragati GargBackground: Cysticercosis, a common parasitic infestation in endemic regions, may rarely cause widespread dissemination throughout the body resulting in disseminated cysticercosis (DCC), scarcely reported in children. Clinical Description: An 8-year-old boy from rural India presented with a 2-week history of headache, abnormal movements, intermittent fever, vomiting, and altered sensorium. Clinical examination revealed generalized hypertonia and signs of raised intracranial pressure. Brain imaging displayed a “starry sky” pattern indicative of neurocysticercosis (NCC) encephalitis. Further imaging revealed cystic lesions throughout the thoracic, abdominal, and paraspinal muscles, confirming DCC. Management and Outcome: The patient was managed with intravenous methylprednisolone, antiepileptics, and acetazolamide, avoiding albendazole due to the risk of exacerbating cerebral edema. The patient regained consciousness after the fifth pulse of steroids and progressively improved thereafter being asymptomatic and seizure-free at the last follow-up, 3 months after discharge. Conclusion: This case creates awareness regarding a rare entity of NCC encephalitis seen in DCC. The condition may be considered in children presenting with encephalopathy in endemic regions. Supportive treatment with steroids without antiparasitic treatment may be successful.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ipcares.ipcares_179_24antiparasitic therapyencephalopathyendemicindia
spellingShingle Mritunjay Kumar
P. Sunny Sukumar
Arvind Kumar Suman
Ashish Upadhyay
Pragati Garg
Neurocysticercosis Encephalitis in a Child with Disseminated Cysticercosis
Indian Pediatrics Case Reports
antiparasitic therapy
encephalopathy
endemic
india
title Neurocysticercosis Encephalitis in a Child with Disseminated Cysticercosis
title_full Neurocysticercosis Encephalitis in a Child with Disseminated Cysticercosis
title_fullStr Neurocysticercosis Encephalitis in a Child with Disseminated Cysticercosis
title_full_unstemmed Neurocysticercosis Encephalitis in a Child with Disseminated Cysticercosis
title_short Neurocysticercosis Encephalitis in a Child with Disseminated Cysticercosis
title_sort neurocysticercosis encephalitis in a child with disseminated cysticercosis
topic antiparasitic therapy
encephalopathy
endemic
india
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ipcares.ipcares_179_24
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AT psunnysukumar neurocysticercosisencephalitisinachildwithdisseminatedcysticercosis
AT arvindkumarsuman neurocysticercosisencephalitisinachildwithdisseminatedcysticercosis
AT ashishupadhyay neurocysticercosisencephalitisinachildwithdisseminatedcysticercosis
AT pragatigarg neurocysticercosisencephalitisinachildwithdisseminatedcysticercosis