Pathophisiology: Cysticercosis (cyst in various tissues) is a systemic infection caused by Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) at larval or metacestode stage, when humans ingest incompletely cooked beef or pork that is infected. The raw or undercooked meat contains cysticerci of tapeworm that develops in to a tapeworm invading muscles, tissues, brain, eyes, spine etc.
Treatment: Cysticercosis is treated with anti-parasitic (albendazole, niclosamide) drugs in combination with anti-inflammatory drugs; sometimes surgery may be required. Neurocysticercosis is treated with corticosteroids to reduce inflammation & anticonvulsants are used to prevent seizuers. More prolonged treatment courses (e.g. 30 days of albendazole, which may be repeated) may be needed for extraparenchymal or extensive disease.
Statistics: Cysticercosis death rates per million populations for California and for its major counties were recognized. A total of 124 cysticercosis deaths were identified that representing 12-year death rate of 3.9 per million population. Eighty-two (66%) of the case-patients were male; 42 (34%) were female. Cysticercosis death rates were higher in Latino residents of California.