Severe Neurocysticercosis in an Immunocompetent Male Without Travel to an Endemic Region: A Case Report

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis is a neglected parasitic cause of seizures in the United States. It can have a wide array of presentations depending on the location and number of cysticercoids. The severity of symptoms varies with the location of the lesion in the brain and to the extent of the number of neurocysticercoids and host immune response. In the severe form of neurocysticercosis, it can present as an acute encephalitic picture. We present a case of severe neurocysticercosis in a patient without any significant travel history. Neurocysticercosis in nonendemic areas can be diagnostically challenging, given the lack of travel history as in our patient. Neurocysticercosis should be kept as a differential in all cases of seizures without prior history of seizure episodes.