CYSTICERCOSIS: A CAUSE OF HIGH MORBIDITY IN HUMANS

Cysticercus has a global presence and is one of the most dangerous human parasitic infections especially when it localizes to the brain. Although potentially eradicable, it still remains one of the major neglected tropical diseases. In India, it is endemic, especially in the rural areas, and is associated with low socioeconomic standards, hygiene and poor pig husbandry. The identification and treatment of both, symptomatic as well as asymptomatic individuals parasitized with Taenia solium, is of high priority for improving community health. Emphasis should be laid on its elimination by health education, public awareness and upgrading general hygiene measures. Further steps should be targeted on providing affordable and readily available elimination tools to endemic regions. The control/elimination programs should be designed and adapted for a particular endemic scenario covering the identification of communities at risk, the intervention strategy, monitoring and evaluation.