YouAreHere:Home→MedicalEncyclopedia→CysticercosisURLofthispage://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000627.htmCysticercosisCysticercosisisaninfectionbyaparasitecalledTaeniasolium(Tsolium).Itisaporktapewormthatcreatescystsindifferentareasinthebody.CausesCysticercosisiscausedbyswallowingeggsfromTsolium.Theeggsarefoundincontaminatedfood.AutoinfectioniswhenapersonwhoisalreadyinfectedwithadultTsoliumswallowsitseggs.Thisoccursduetoimproperhandwashingafterabowelmovement(fecal-oraltransmission).Riskfactorsincludeeatingpork,fruits,andvegetablescontaminatedwithTsoliumasaresultofundercookingorimproperfoodpreparation.Thediseasecanalsobespreadbycontactwithinfectedfeces.ThediseaseisrareintheUnitedStates.Itiscommoninmanydevelopingcountries.SymptomsMostoften,thewormsstayinmusclesanddonotcausesymptoms.Symptomsthatdooccurdependonwheretheinfectionisfoundinthebody:Brain--seizuresorsymptomssimilartothoseofabraintumorEyes--decreasedvisionorblindnessHeart--abnormalheartrhythmsorheartfailure(rare)Spine--weaknessorchangesinwalkingduetodamagetonervesinthespineExamsandTestsTeststhatmaybedoneinclude:BloodteststodetectantibodiestotheparasiteBiopsyoftheaffectedareaCTscan,MRIscan,orx-raystodetectthelesionSpinaltap(lumbarpuncture)TestinwhichanophthalmologistlooksinsidetheeyeTreatmentTreatmentmayinvolve:Medicinestokilltheparasites,suchasalbendazoleorpraziquantelPowerfulanti-inflammatories(steroids)toreduceswellingIfthecystisintheeyeorbrain,steroidsshouldbestartedafewdaysbeforeothermedicinestoavoidproblemscausedbyswellingduringantiparasitictreatment.Notallpeoplebenefitfromantiparasitictreatment.Sometimes,surgerymaybeneededtoremovetheinfectedarea.Outlook(Prognosis)Theoutlookisgood,unlessthelesionhascausedblindness,heartfailure,orbraindamage.Thesearerarecomplications.PossibleComplicationsComplicationsmayinclude:Blindness,decreasedvisionHeartfailureorabnormalheartrhythmHydrocephalus(fluidbuildupinpartofthebrain,oftenwithincreasedpressure)SeizuresWhentoContactaMedicalProfessionalIfyouhaveanysymptomsofcysticer