Clinical Features:
The symptoms of cysticercosis are caused by the development of cysticerci in various sites.  Of greatest concern is cerebral cysticercosis (or neurocysticercosis), which can cause diverse manifestations including seizures, mental disturbances, focal neurologic deficits, and signs of space-occupying intracerebral lesions.  Death can occur suddenly.  Extracerebral cysticercosis can cause ocular, cardiac, or spinal lesions with associated symptoms.  Asymptomatic subcutaneous nodules and calcified intramuscular nodules can be encountered.

Laboratory Diagnosis:
The definitive diagnosis consists of demonstrating the cysticercus in the tissue involved.  Demonstration of Taenia solium eggs and proglottids in the feces diagnoses taeniasis and not cysticercosis.  While suggestive, it does not necessarily prove that cysticercosis is present.  Persons who are found to have eggs or proglottids in their feces should be evaluated serologically since autoinfection, resulting in cysticercosis, can occur.

Diagnostic findings

• Antibody detection provides a useful adjunct in specific diagnosis.

Treatment:
Infections are generally treated with antiparasitic drugs in combination with antiinflammatory drugs.  Surgery is sometimes necessary to treat infection in the eyes, cases that are not responsive to drug treatment, or to reduce brain edema.  Not all cases of cysticercosis are treated and the use of albendazole and praziquantel is controversial.  See recommendations in The Medical Letter for complete information.