Introduction

Neurocysticercosis (NCC), one of the most common helminthic infestations of the brain, is highly prevalent in low and middle income countries (LMICs). It is one of the most common causes of acquired epilepsy and neurological morbidity in children [1]. A community based survey conducted in 300 patients from Morang district of Nepal reported that NCC was the main risk factors in about 7.3% prevalent seizure cases as was in another study from Western Nepal that also reported NCC as the common neuroimaging fndings in abnormal brain scans [2, 3]. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is seen in 60–۹۰% of infested patients with cerebrum and cerebellum as common sites but cysticerci may involve brainstem, basal ganglion, thalamus, and lateral sinus as well [4]. NCC is common in the communities with poor hygiene and sanitation where untreated human faeces are used in the feld/garden as fertilizer. Vegetarians might get infected by eating raw vegetables contaminated with ova or proglottids of Taenia solium whereas nonvegetarians may get infected afer eating improperly cooked pork meat [5]. Tis study was thus conducted to study the prevalence, the clinical profle, and the radiological fndings of NCC in children presenting with seizures.

Material and Methods

Tis study recruited children aged 0–۱۶ years from 1 August 2014 to 31 July 2016 at a tertiary hospital of South-Western Nepal. All cases with seizures admitted to pediatric ward and pediatric intensive care unit were enrolled following written and verbal consent. Seizure was defned as a transient occurrence of signs and/or symptoms resulting from abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain (as per International league against epilepsy (ILAE) classifcation). Neurocysticercosis was diagnosed by the revised criteria as described by Del Brutto [6]. Radiological classifcation of NCC was done as per Escobar’s pathological staging system [7]. Children not presenting with seizures and/or encephalopathy or children with seizures and/or encephalopathy where neuroimaging (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) could not be carried out were excluded from the study. To rule out tubercular infection of brain, a complete blood count, Mantoux test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), X-ray chest, and gastric aspirate for acid fast bacilli (AFB) were done in all patients having NCC in CT or MRI scan. Te study was approved by the Universal Medical Colleges institute’s ethical review board (IRB). Sample size (� = ۱۶۲) was calculated “anticipating 11.9% prevalence of neurocysticercosis in epilepsy patients [8] to fall within 10% points of true proportion with 95% confdence interval.” Data was recorded in predesigned pro forma. Patients were followed up in 3 months’ time following administration of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).