Prévention et traitement de la cysticercose

Cysticercosis is due to the development of larval stage from Taenia solium into the tissues. The human is an accidental and “dead-end” intermediate host. Cystercus larvae migrate preferentially to the brain and muscles. Neurocysticercosis is the most frequent and widespread human neuroparasitosis. Epileptic seizure and headache are the main clinical signs of neurocysticercosis. Life-threatening presentations with intracranial hypertension or cerebrovascular accident can be observed. Diagnosis is based on radiological, serological, clinical and epidemiological data. Personalized therapeutic management is recommended. Symptomatic treatment includes analgesic and anti-epileptic drugs. Causal treatment with antihelminthics is not systematic, because the subsequent inflammatory response could be harmful for the patient, and requires association with corticoids. Surgery could be proposed in some particular cases. Prophylaxis includes mass screening and treatment of adult-worm carrier individuals, which could be the origin of the disease transmission, and control of the porcine cysticercosis.