Published Date: 1997-08-11 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH> Cysticercosis - USA (California)
Archive Number: 19970811.1663

CYSTICERCOSIS - USA (CALIFORNIA)
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(a ProMED-mail post)
Date: Mon, 11 Aug 1997 12:50:35 -0800
From: David Dassey <ddassey@dhs.co.la.ca.us>
Apparently a Los Angeles (CA, USA) story of a child with a "worm on the
brain" has made it to the wire services. Because of inaccuracies in local
television and radio reports, and lest ProMED-mail readers think that we
don't know much about cysticercosis in Los Angeles, I would like to note
the following.
A 10-year old boy who was born and raised in Mexico suffered a seizure and
was admitted to hospital in respiratory arrest. Brain scan suggested
neurocysticercosis; serologic confirmation is pending. The attending
physician made a media statement that the boy must have gotten a pork
tapeworm (_Taenia solium_) from eating raw or undercooked pork. Clearly, his
current problem stems from eating tapeworm eggs, probably acquired from
someone else in his household and definitely not from pork; the child may
also be a tapeworm carrier, and auto-inoculated _Taenia_ eggs. Stool
examination of the child and his household member will be conducted by my
office shortly.
This story and its error were widely disseminated. I was called by a county
health officer in Michigan who was being interviewed by his local TV on this
poor child with the worm on his brain!
On average, 45 cases of neurocysticercosis are reported in Los Angeles yearly
(5-year range 25-60). Most cases are young adults, and likely to have been
infected many years ago. Occasionally a child becomes ill, and in quite a
few such investigations a tapeworm carrier is identified, either a family
member or a housekeeper from a high risk region. Due to longstanding federal
regulations in the pork industry requiring all garbage to be cooked prior to
feeding hogs, the presence of tapeworm larvae in USA pork should be exceeding
low.
---
David E. Dassey MD
Acute Communicable Disease Control
Department of Health Services
County of Los Angeles, California
213/240-7941
e-mail: <ddassey@dhs.co.la.ca.us>
[Thanks David for the clarification. ProMED-mail had received a message
about this case but I had the good sense to have unintentionally neglected
posting it; I forgot it. Anyway, it did not look as though it was a
"definitive" a report. Can't imagine that anyone would think that L.A.
County folks aren't up to snuff. We are certain that residents of that area
are in knowledgeable and competent medical hands. -- Mod CHC]
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