Iatreia (Mar 1997)
Neurocisticercosis en niños: Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl, Medellín 1989-1996 Neurocysticercosis in children: experience in Medellín, Colombia 1989-1996
Abstract
Se hace un estudio retrospectivo de las historias cínicas de los menores de 18 años con diagnóstico de egreso de neurocisticercosis, del Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl, de Medellín (HUSVP) durante el período 1989 a 1996. Se encontraron 16 pacientes: Trece mujeres y 3 hombres, con un promedio de edad de 11 años. Los motivos de consulta mas frecuentes fueron convulsiones (68.8%), cefalea (62.5%) y alteraciones visuales (37.5%). La evolución de los síntomas fue menor de tres meses en el 81% de los casos. Los diagnósticos sindromáticos mas frecuentes fueron los síndromes convulsivo (68.8%) y de hipertensión endocraneana (43.8%). La tomografía computarizada mostró lesiones parenquimatosas múltiples en 8 casos y únicas en 4. El tratamiento con albendazol (10 mg/kg/dla) mejor6 la sintomatología en todos los casos; se emplearon corticoides en todos los pacientes que recibieron tratamiento antiparasitario. Las convulsiones se controlaron fácilmente con difenilhidantolna o carbamazepina. Neurocysticercosis in children. Experience in Medellín, Colombia, 1989-1996 This is a retrospective clinical study of neurocisticercosis in patients aged 18 years or less, at Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paul, in Medellln, Colombia, during the period 1989-1996. There were 16 patients, 13 girls and 3 boys; average age was 11 years. The main complaints were: Seizures (68.8%), headache (62.5%) and visual disturbances (37.5%). Evolution of symptoms was less than three months in 81% of the patients. The most frequent syndromatic diagnoses were: Convulsive (68.8%) and intracraneal hypertension syndromes (43.8%). Computed tomography revealed intraparenchimal multiple lesions in 8 cases and solitary lesions in 4 cases. Treatment with albendazole (10 mg/kg/day) improved symptoms in every patient; children treated with antiparasitic drugs also received corticosteroids for 7 to 14 days. Seizures were easily controlled with anticonvulsivants such as carbamazepine and phenitoine. Prognosis was excellent in the majority of patients. Neurocysticercosis is rare in children; we did not find colombian studies about it during childhood and there are few articles on it in this age groups in the world literature.
