Disseminated Cysticercosis in Rwanda—Case Report of a Patient Presenting with Difficulty with Walking and Skin Nodules
Human cysticercosis is a parasitic disease caused by larval cysts of the Taenia solium tapeworm. The pathogenesis of disseminated cysticercosis involves migration of Taenia solium embryos from the hepatoportal system to organs and tissues in the body. Symptoms may range anywhere from neurologic se...
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doaj-6efa7de08c9d4569975505b43c928d522020-11-25T03:29:41ZengRwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC)/Rwanda Health Communication CenterRwanda Medical Journal2079-097X2410-86262020-03-017713033Disseminated Cysticercosis in Rwanda—Case Report of a Patient Presenting with Difficulty with Walking and Skin NodulesJ. Tuan0L. Kailani1P. Ngabitsinze2S. Umuganwa3F. Munyaneza4E. Musoni5A. L. Canales6M. Nkeshimana7Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious DiseasesGeisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire; University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda, Department of PathologyUniversity of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda, Department of Internal MedicineUniversity of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda, Department of Pathology; University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda, Department of PathologyBrigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, Department of DermatopathologyUniversity of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda, Department of Internal Medicine; University Teaching Hospital of Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda, Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine; Human cysticercosis is a parasitic disease caused by larval cysts of the Taenia solium tapeworm. The pathogenesis of disseminated cysticercosis involves migration of Taenia solium embryos from the hepatoportal system to organs and tissues in the body. Symptoms may range anywhere from neurologic sequelae such as seizures, to skin manifestations such as subcutaneous nodules [1-2]. Disseminated cysticercosis is a rare complication of cysticercosis, and globally, fewer than 50 cases of disseminated cysticercosis are documented [1-3]. Human cysticercosis is endemic to Rwanda with a seroprevalence of 7% [4]. An increased prevalence of cysticercosis has been noted among epileptic persons in the southern province of Rwanda [5]. We describe a 46-year-old Rwandan woman from Kamonyi District, in the southern province of Rwanda, who presented with a two-week history of bilateral lower limb weakness, causing difficulty walking. She had associated fevers and headache. She was febrile and tachycardic, with decreased lower extremity strength and subcutaneous nodules on her trunk and extremities. Laboratory data demonstrated leukocytosis with neutrophilic predominance and mild eosinophilia. Excisional biopsy of a subcutaneous nodule revealed a cyst containing a protoscolex with suckers, ramifying cistern, and calcareous bodies; brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated diffuse, cystic cerebral, cerebellar, and soft tissue lesions—consistent with disseminated cysticercosis. The patient received a fourteen-day course of albendazole and prednisolone, and afterwards, noted restored ability to walk independently. In this case, prompt diagnosis and treatment of disseminated cysticercosis led to dramatic clinical improvement.https://www.rwandamedicaljournal.org/uploads/1/2/2/1/122149944/cr.19.19.pdfcysticercosisneurocysticercosistaenia soliumrwanda |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
J. Tuan L. Kailani P. Ngabitsinze S. Umuganwa F. Munyaneza E. Musoni A. L. Canales M. Nkeshimana |
spellingShingle |
J. Tuan L. Kailani P. Ngabitsinze S. Umuganwa F. Munyaneza E. Musoni A. L. Canales M. Nkeshimana Disseminated Cysticercosis in Rwanda—Case Report of a Patient Presenting with Difficulty with Walking and Skin Nodules Rwanda Medical Journal cysticercosis neurocysticercosis taenia solium rwanda |
author_facet |
J. Tuan L. Kailani P. Ngabitsinze S. Umuganwa F. Munyaneza E. Musoni A. L. Canales M. Nkeshimana |
author_sort |
J. Tuan |
title |
Disseminated Cysticercosis in Rwanda—Case Report of a Patient Presenting with Difficulty with Walking and Skin Nodules |
title_short |
Disseminated Cysticercosis in Rwanda—Case Report of a Patient Presenting with Difficulty with Walking and Skin Nodules |
title_full |
Disseminated Cysticercosis in Rwanda—Case Report of a Patient Presenting with Difficulty with Walking and Skin Nodules |
title_fullStr |
Disseminated Cysticercosis in Rwanda—Case Report of a Patient Presenting with Difficulty with Walking and Skin Nodules |
title_full_unstemmed |
Disseminated Cysticercosis in Rwanda—Case Report of a Patient Presenting with Difficulty with Walking and Skin Nodules |
title_sort |
disseminated cysticercosis in rwanda—case report of a patient presenting with difficulty with walking and skin nodules |
publisher |
Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC)/Rwanda Health Communication Center |
series |
Rwanda Medical Journal |
issn |
2079-097X 2410-8626 |
publishDate |
2020-03-01 |
description |
Human cysticercosis is a parasitic disease caused by larval cysts of the Taenia solium tapeworm. The pathogenesis of disseminated
cysticercosis involves migration of Taenia solium embryos from the hepatoportal system to organs and tissues
in the body. Symptoms may range anywhere from neurologic sequelae such as seizures, to skin manifestations such as
subcutaneous nodules [1-2]. Disseminated cysticercosis is a rare complication of cysticercosis, and globally, fewer than
50 cases of disseminated cysticercosis are documented [1-3]. Human cysticercosis is endemic to Rwanda with a seroprevalence
of 7% [4]. An increased prevalence of cysticercosis has been noted among epileptic persons in the southern
province of Rwanda [5].
We describe a 46-year-old Rwandan woman from Kamonyi District, in the southern province of Rwanda, who presented
with a two-week history of bilateral lower limb weakness, causing difficulty walking. She had associated fevers and
headache. She was febrile and tachycardic, with decreased lower extremity strength and subcutaneous nodules on her
trunk and extremities. Laboratory data demonstrated leukocytosis with neutrophilic predominance and mild eosinophilia.
Excisional biopsy of a subcutaneous nodule revealed a cyst containing a protoscolex with suckers, ramifying cistern, and
calcareous bodies; brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated diffuse, cystic cerebral, cerebellar, and soft tissue
lesions—consistent with disseminated cysticercosis.
The patient received a fourteen-day course of albendazole and prednisolone, and afterwards, noted restored ability to
walk independently. In this case, prompt diagnosis and treatment of disseminated cysticercosis led to dramatic clinical
improvement. |
topic |
cysticercosis neurocysticercosis taenia solium rwanda |
url |
https://www.rwandamedicaljournal.org/uploads/1/2/2/1/122149944/cr.19.19.pdf |
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