Neurocysticercosis Presenting with Psychiatric Manifestations

Abstract

Cysticercosis is the most common heliminth infection of the human central nervous system Epilepsy is the most common presentation and occurs in 50-85% of patients. Psychiatric manifestations in a form of depressive disorders, cognitive decline and psychosis have been reported frequently(2). A19-year-old Nepalese male presented with severe headache, seizures, fears and anxiety for one week. A CT scan of the brain showed small calcified lesion in the right deep temporal white matter without perifocal edema. This was considered suggestive of a healed inflammatory granuloma-neurocysticercus cyst. Treatment with a combination of albendazole dexamethazone, ranitidine, phenytoin, lorazepam and hydroxyzine resulted in a rapid recovery.