Seventy black epileptics. Cysticercosis, computed tomography and electro-encephalography

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Radiology

Background:

• Epilepsy is a neurological disorder affecting millions worldwide.
• Cerebral cysticercosis, a parasitic infection of the brain, is a known cause of epilepsy, particularly in endemic regions.
• Black populations may have specific epidemiological considerations for epilepsy and parasitic infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of cerebral cysticercosis in black patients diagnosed with epilepsy.
• To assess the utility of computed tomography (CT) in diagnosing active and inactive cysticercosis in this patient group.
• To evaluate the role of electro-encephalography (EEG) in epilepsy cases where CT findings are inconclusive.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 70 black patients with epilepsy underwent computed tomography (CT) brain scans.
• Data on the presence, extent, and activity of cerebral cysticercosis were recorded.
• Electro-encephalography (EEG) results were analyzed for patients with negative CT findings.

Main Results:

• Computed tomography (CT) identified cerebral cysticercosis in 30% of the 70 black patients studied.
• Signs of active cerebral cysticercosis were observed in 12.9% of the patients.
• Electro-encephalography (EEG) provided practical value in cases where CT scans were negative for cysticercosis.

Conclusions:

• Computed tomography (CT) is a crucial diagnostic tool for identifying cerebral cysticercosis in black patients presenting with epilepsy.
• The significant prevalence of active cysticercosis underscores the importance of CT for guiding timely and effective treatment.
• EEG serves as a valuable complementary investigation for epilepsy management when CT results are non-diagnostic for parasitic infection.