BY Aaron BhattachanNeurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most prevalent parasitic disease affecting the central nervous system and is a leading contributor to the increase of epilepsy within developing countries. As a result of mass immigration to the United States, NCC has become an incredibly relevant dilemma that is too large to ignore. With 50 million people infected worldwide, it is apparent that analyzing NCC’s implications on society is not only a health-conscious decision but also a necessary one that is fundamental for all people to understand. To start, NCC is obtained when an individual eats food that was contaminated with the feces of a t.solium tapeworm carrier. Through poor hygienic practices, the eggs of the tapeworm contaminate food. Once these eggs are digested, the gastric acid found within the stomach breaks down the “protective capsule” encompassing the egg, leaving behind cysts which are called oncospheres. These oncospheres then maneuver within the human body through the bloodstream to reach the brain, where the cysticerci produce an effective immune response to stay in the brain for many years to come. These cysticerci that prove to be undergoing a process known as degeneration are the ones that are most commonly the most epileptogenic. Notably, this process of degeneration occurs the most frequently during the first 6-12 months after the time of initial infection, thus immediate treatment is vital in many situations. Out of all the treatments that have been tested by scientists and researchers, one antiparasitic drug has proven to be the most effective- Albendazole. Although the morality of its use is a polarized topic, data has shown that Albendazole users have reported reduced seizure attacks along with reduced cysticerci activity in the central nervous system. Still, some make the contention that antiparasitic treatments such as Albendazole and Praziquantel have adverse effects on patients, placing them at a higher risk for gastrointestinal side effects including seizures, nausea, and cerebral edema. With so many opposing viewpoints on the efficacy of the treatments, a Peruvian Neurocycsticercosis Working Group created an experiment to cross-compare the effects of albendazole with a placebo treatment. With a sample size of 120 patients (60 in each group), they found that 67% of those who took the treatment showed an overall reduction in tonic-clonic seizures in comparison with the control placebo group. Undoubtedly, this study was a testament not only to the scientific field but to the demonstration of albendazole’s effectiveness in treating NCC as a whole. The fact of the matter is that NCC will continue to be a leading contributor to epilepsies all over the world for some time; however, with the constant introduction of new treatments, researchers have become increasingly optimistic about its cure soon. And while such diseases can’t always be predicted, doing our parts every day to prevent and control the spread of such diseases is a necessary step to make our world a safer place for all. References:
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