Neurocysticercosis,a Persisting Health Problem in Mexico |
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Authors: | Agnès Fleury Jael Moreno García Paulina Valdez Aguerrebere María de Sayve Durán Paola Becerril Rodríguez Carlos Larralde Edda Sciutto |
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Affiliation: | 1. Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Mexico City, México.; 2. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, México.;Center for Disease Control, United States of America |
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Abstract: | BackgroundThe ongoing epidemiological transition in Mexico minimizes the relative impact of neurocysticercosis (NC) on public health. However, hard data on the disease frequency are not available.MethodologyAll clinical records from patients admitted in the Instituto Nacional de Neurologia y Neurocirugia (INNN) at Mexico City in 1994 and 2004 were revised. The frequencies of hospitalized NC patients in neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry services, as well as NC mortality from 1995 through 2009, were retrieved. Statistical analyses were made to evaluate possible significant differences in frequencies of NC patients'' admission between 1994 and 2004, and in yearly frequencies of NC patients'' hospitalization and death between 1995 and 2009.Principal FindingsNC frequency in INNN is not significantly different in 1994 and 2004. Between these two years, clinical severity of the cases diminished and the proportion of patients living in Mexico City increased. Yearly frequencies of hospitalization in neurology and psychiatry services were stable, while frequencies of hospitalization in neurosurgery service and mortality significantly decreased between 1995 and 2009.ConclusionsOur findings show a stable tendency of hospital cases during the last decade that should encourage to redouble efforts to control this ancient disease. |
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