Needs of exploring the burden of recent onset seizures due to neurocysticercosis and challenges in southeast Asia focusing on scenario in Malaysia

Publication date: Available online 7 April 2017 Source:Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine Author(s): Priyadarshi S. Sahu, Yvonne AL. Lim, Rohela Mahmud, Sushela D. Somanath, Chong T. Tan, C.P. Ramachandran Seizures due to neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a neglected human-to-human transmitted disorder and an emerging problem worldwide. A substantial portion of recent onset seizures is known to be attributed to NCC in Taenia solium (T. solium) endemic areas where populations which neither raise pigs nor eat pig meat are also at risk. High prevalence of NCC causing epilepsy has been reported in the underdeveloped areas of Southeast Asia (SEA) however, only fragmentary information on its incidence is available in countries like Malaysia. In Malaysia T. solium infection was previously thought to be infrequent due to Muslim population majority and the religious prohibition of consuming pork, but it is not totally absent. There is an evident lack of knowledge and awareness of the actual burden, routes of transmission, and the impact of NCC in this region. The problem is assumed to be more prevalent particularly in cities because of the frequent inflow of possibly T. solium infected individuals or carriers among those who migrate from neighboring endemic countries to Malaysia. The issue of imported cases that are likely to be emerging in Malaysia is highlighted here. An accurate quantification of regional burdens of epilepsy due to NCC in Malaysia is warranted considering...
Source: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine - Category: Tropical Medicine Source Type: research