Neurocysticercosis

Neurocysticercosis is a brain disease due to the larval stage of the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium). The most common symptoms patient experience from infection inside the substance of the brain (parenchymal disease) are seizures and headaches. When the infection is either inside the fluid pockets inside the brain (ventricular disease) or in the space around the brain (subarachnoid disease) patients can have chronic headaches, relapsing aseptic meningitis, hydrocephalus, stroke, and may require neurosurgical intervention. The purpose of this study is to treat patients with anthelmintic therapy (praziquantel and/or albendazole) and anti-inflammatories in alignment with currently accepted best practices and guidelines, depending on the neurocysticercosis subtype. The purpose of the study is to better understand and characterize clinical, biologic, and management factors during treatment that influence long term outcomes. In order to understand this further we collect patient clinical information, patient survey responses, blood, urine samples, and additional cerebral spinal fluid if already being collected for clinical care.

This randomized controlled trial evaluates whether exposure to a medical television drama improves knowledge of neurocysticercosis (NCC) among young adults. Sixty participants aged 18-35 will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group, which will watch a medically relevant TV episode (House M.D., Season 1, Episode 1), or a control group with no media exposure. Both groups will complete pre- and post-test questionnaires assessing knowledge of NCC. The primary outcome is change in NCC-related knowledge. Secondary outcomes include motivation to seek further health information and perceived credibility of the media source

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the combination albendazole and praziquantel versus albendazole alone in patients affected by neurocysticercosis.