Neurocysticercosis : experience at the teaching hospitals of the University of Cape Town

Thomson, AJG

Neurocysticercosis : experience at the teaching hospitals of the University of Cape Town

Journal Article

1993

Journal Title

South African Medical Journal

Link to Journal

https://dx.doi.org/10.7196/sajs.718

Department

Department of Medicine

Faculty

Faculty of Health Sciences

Abstract

In the 15 years 1975-1989, 239 patients attending the associated teaching hospitals of the University of Cape Town have been identified retrospectively as having neurocysticercosis. One hundred and twenty-three (51,46%) were children 12 years of age or younger, 14 (5,86%) were adolescents aged 13-19 years, and 102 (42,68%) were adults 20 years of age or older. Two hundred and twelve (88,7%) of these patients were black, almost exclusively Xhosa-speakers originating from the eastern Cape homeland regions of Transkei and Ciskei. Although the clinical features of neurocysticercosis are protean, these patients could be divided into three clinicoradiological groups - a group with seizures, a group with raised intracranial pressure, and an asymptomatic group.In the 15 years 1975-1989, 239 patients attending the associated teaching hospitals of the University of Cape Town have been identified retrospectively as having neurocysticercosis. One hundred and twenty-three (51,46%) were children 12 years of age or younger, 14 (5,86%) were adolescents aged 13-19 years, and 102 (42,68%) were adults 20 years of age or older. Two hundred and twelve (88,7%) of these patients were black, almost exclusively Xhosa-speakers originating from the eastern Cape homeland regions of Transkei and Ciskei. Although the clinical features of neurocysticercosis are protean, these patients could be divided into three clinicoradiological groups - a group with seizures, a group with raised intracranial pressure, and an asymptomatic group.

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