A STUDY OF NEUROCYSTICERCOSIS PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM IN THE PEDIATRICS WARD OF TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN KUMAUN REGION, INDIA

Nutan Singh*1, Amit Kumar Singh 2, Sandeep Gaur 3, Rajnish Kumar 4

Nutan Singh*1, Amit Kumar Singh 2, Sandeep Gaur 3, Rajnish Kumar 4 1Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Haldwani, Distt-Nainital (Uttarakhand), India. 2Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Haldwani, Distt-Nainital (Uttarakhand), India. 3Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Haldwani, Distt-Nainital (Uttarakhand), India. 4PG JR-3, Department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Haldwani, Distt-Nainital (Uttarakhand), India.

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a common cause of seizures and neurologic disease. Although there may be variable presentations depending on the stage and location of cysts in the nervous system. Most children (> 80%) present with seizures particularly partial seizures. Neurocysticercosis has been increasingly recognized as a major cause of neurologic disease worldwide and an important problem among immigrant populations in india. Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the CNS. Tissue-invading larval forms of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium cause the disease. The study based on to determined incidence of Neurocysticercosis (NCC) in patients presented with seizures. and to define the age group of children which was more prone for neurocysticercosis. The study was based on 1223 total number of patients admitted with neurocysticercosis (NCC) over a period of six years. These all patients were admitted in department of pediatrics, UFHT medical college & hospital, Haldwani (presently known as Government Medical College & Hospital, Haldwani). All Neuro imaging investigations were investigated in deptt of radiodiagnosis, government medical college and hospital, Haldwani. Pathological and microbiological investigation also done in centre lab of government medical college and Hospital, Haldwani. All the patients were examined clinically and were investigated with neuroimaging (CT Scan and MRI). In addition to above X Ray chest, Mantoux test, haematological investigations including ESR and CSF was done to rule out Tuberculoma. Routine stool examination was also done.

A strikingly high incidence of Neurocysticercosis (NCC) was found among the pediatric patients of our tertiary care hospital. A high incidence of NCC in kumaun region reflects the endemic presence of taenia solium.

Keywords: Neurocysticercosis, Pediatric patients, Seizures, Taenia solium , Neurologic disease.