Cardiac Cysticercosis
Cardiac cysticercosis is a predominantly silent or asymptomatic disease acquired when a person eats the eggs (not larvae) of the tapeworm called "Taenia solium" (pork tapeworm). After ingestion, the eggs travel via the bloodstream to reach the heart, muscles, brain, and other tissues of the body. Thereafter, the eggs encyst and develop into larval cysts (cysticerci) within 60 to 90 days. When the larvae die off, a strong immune defensive reaction against it or the cysts surrounding it can occur leading to severe illness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan are the techniques used to diagnose Cardiac cysticercosis. Symptomatic patients can be treated with drugs (albendazole or praziquantel). And if the condition is severe surgery may be prescribed.
and in case of neurocsyticercosis..RX..Albandazole and corticosteroids...corticosteroids enhance the absoprtion of albandazole in intestine and also reduce the imfilamtion due to immune sytem against the dead csyst
Mechanism of action of Praziquantel: The mode of action is not exactly known at present, but experimental evidence indicatespraziquantel increases the permeability of the membranes of schistosome cells towards calcium ions. The drug thereby induces contraction of the parasites, resulting in paralysis in the contracted state.
