. Cysticercosis infection is caused by the tapeworm Taenia solium. It occurs when a person ingests eggs from contaminated food or water, or through fecal-oral transmission from an infected person. After ingestion, the eggs hatch into larvae, the larvae get into tissues such as muscle, brain, and eye, and form cysts called cysticerci. When cysts are found in the brain or central nervous system, it is called neurocysticercosis.
. Common symptoms of cysticercosis depend on the location of the cysts and may include: seizures, headaches, confusion, balance problems, and intracranial hypertension, vision disturbances or blindness, painless nodules in the muscles.
. Detection of IgM antibodies suggest a recent or active infection, especially in the early stages, while IgG antibodies indicate past or chronic infection, and they can persist for years even after successful treatment. Early diagnosis helps guide appropriate treatment, reducing the risk of complications, improving patient outcomes, and also valuable for monitoring the efficacy of treatment.