| Abstract: | Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is one of the major causes of childhood seizuresin developing countries including India and Latin America. In this study neurologicalpediatric cases presenting with afebrile seizures were screened for anti-Cysticercusantibodies (IgG) in their sera in order to estimate the possible burden ofcysticercal etiology. The study included a total of 61 pediatric afebrile seizuresubjects (aged one to 15 years old); there was a male predominance. All the sera weretested using a pre-evaluated commercially procured IgG-ELISA kit (UB-MagiwellCysticercosis Kit ™). Anti-Cysticercus antibody in serum was positive in 23 of 61 (37.7%)cases. The majority of cases with a positive ELISA test presented with generalizedseizure (52.17%), followed by complex partial seizure (26.08%), and simple partialseizure (21.73%). Headaches were the major complaint (73.91%). Other presentationswere vomiting (47.82%), pallor (34.78%), altered sensorium (26.08%), and muscleweakness (13.04%). There was one hemiparesis case diagnosed to be NCC. In this studyone child without any significant findings on imaging was also found to be positiveby serology. There was a statistically significant association found between thecases with multiple lesions on the brain and the ELISA-positivity (p= 0.017). Overall positivity of the ELISA showed a potential cysticercal etiology.Hence, neurocysticercosis should be suspected in every child presenting with afebrileseizure especially with a radio-imaging supportive diagnosis in tropical developingcountries or areas endemic for taeniasis/cysticercosis. |
