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Neurocysticercosis in Qatari patients: case reports
Fahmi Yousef Khan1, Yahia Z Imam, Hussein Kamel
1Hamad Medical Corporation, Department of Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
|August 6, 2011
Summary
Neurocysticercosis, a parasitic brain infection, is a leading cause of seizures globally. This study highlights its increasing prevalence in Muslim countries, including Qatar, particularly among laborers from endemic regions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system globally.
- It is a significant cause of seizures, particularly in developing regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
- Prevalence is rising in Muslim countries, notably the Gulf region, due to labor migration from endemic areas.
Observation:
- This report details a prospective case of a Qatari male with neurocysticercosis presenting with seizures.
- Three retrospective cases of neurocysticercosis among Qatari Muslims over ten years are also presented.
- All cases were admitted to a tertiary care hospital.
Findings:
- The study identifies neurocysticercosis as an emerging neurological concern in Qatar.
- It underscores the link between migration patterns and the disease's spread in non-endemic Muslim populations.
- Seizures were the primary clinical manifestation across all presented cases.
Implications:
- Increased awareness and diagnostic vigilance for neurocysticercosis are crucial in regions like Qatar.
- Public health strategies may need to address the impact of labor migration on parasitic infections.
- Further research into the epidemiology and prevention of neurocysticercosis in the Gulf region is warranted.
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