1. Common sites are brain, subcutaneous tissues, eye, heart or any other organs.

2. In these sites, cysts produce inflammatory reactions which usually end in fibrosis and calcification.

3. Patient may suffer from muscle pain, fever and eosinophilia.

4. Cysts in subcutaneous tissues are easily palpated and may resemble small lipomas.

5. In the eye, they lead to visual disturbances.

6. Neurocysticercosis leads to variable neurological disorders.

Click here to see a rare case of tongue cysticercosis.

• Intestinal infection with adult T. solium is suggestive.
• Biopsy from a nodule in the skin or muscle.                                                                                              
• X-ray to visualize calcified lesions (spindle shaped shadows less than 2 cm).
• CT (computerized tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance image), ultrasound and ophthalmoscopic examinations help to localize the lesions. Click here to see some imaging photoes.
• Eosinophilia, intradermal tests and serological methods as IHA and ELISA.

i.   Surgical treatment if possible. 

ii.  Praziquantel for 15 days.

iii.  Albendazole for 18-30 days in active brain cysts.

iv. Simultaneous administration of steroids is essential to relieve the intense local inflammatory reactions of the antigenic material of dead larvae.

v. Vitamin D and calcium to help calcification.

• Proper washing of vegetables eaten raw (for salad).

• Sanitary disposal of human excreta which should not be used as manure.

• Pure water supply.

• Early treatment of T. solium patients as food handlers and house keepers.

• Good health habits and personal hygiene.