Cysticercosis in Los Angeles County

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Radiology

Background:

• Cysticercosis, a parasitic infection caused by the larval cysts of the tapeworm Taenia solium, is a significant public health concern.
• Neurocysticercosis, the most common form, affects the central nervous system and can lead to seizures and neurological deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incidence and characteristics of cysticercosis cases treated in Los Angeles hospitals between 1973 and 1983.
• To investigate potential factors contributing to observed trends in cysticercosis diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for 497 patients diagnosed with cysticercosis.
• Analysis of patient demographics, nationality, age groups, hospitalization duration, and readmission rates.
• Correlation of case numbers with the introduction of computed tomographic (CT) scanning.

Main Results:

• A total of 497 cysticercosis cases were identified over an 11-year period.
• The majority of patients (over 90%) were Hispanic, predominantly of Mexican nationality, within productive age groups.
• A significant increase in cases was observed after 1977, with numbers plateauing around 80 cases annually by 1981, coinciding with CT scan introduction.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a notable increase in cysticercosis cases in Los Angeles, particularly among the Hispanic population.
• The introduction of CT scanning appears to have coincided with and potentially influenced the rise in diagnosed cases.
• Cysticercosis diagnosis in US-born individuals without travel history warrants further investigation into local transmission patterns.