Asymptomatic multiorgan cysticercosis. A case report from Bolivia

Abstract

Introduction: Cysticercosis is an infectious disease caused by Taenia solium, endemic to Latin America, Asia, and Africa. It is acquired by consuming Taenia eggs in contaminated water and food, or undercooked pork. It generally causes mild or asymptomatic disease, except for neurocysticercosis, which can be severe and potentially fatal. Symptoms depend on the number of parasites, their location, and the host's immune response. Diagnosis is based on epidemiological data, clinical presentation, and imaging studies, primarily computed tomography. Objective: To use computed tomographic images to identify the degree of tissue damage caused by Taenia solium in an asymptomatic Bolivian adult. Clinical case: A 52-year-old Bolivian female patient from a rural area, with a wooden house, dirt floor, no sewage or drinking water, a housewife, who practices open defecation and raises pigs to support her household. She had a personal health history, but an inadequate diet. She was taken to the Roberto Galindo Hospital due to a traffic accident, where an emergency CT scan of the head and abdomen was performed due to direct trauma to those areas. The studies revealed calcifications in multiple organs, findings suggestive of massive cysticercosis. Conclusions: Cysticercosis is a parasitic disease transmitted fecal-orally, preventable but highly contagious from country to country due to social migration. It constitutes a serious health problem due to the biological, economic, and social damage it entails, making increased epidemiological surveillance essential.