[Risk factors associated with neurocysticercosis in a public hospital in Mexico]. / Factores de riesgo asociados a neurocisticercosis en un hospital público de México.

OBJECTIVE: A case-control study was carried out to determine risk factors associated with neurocysticercosis in a public hospital in Mexico. METHODS: The following factors were analyzed: Socioeconomic, sociodemographic, hygiene, eating habits, and family history of neurocysticercosis in 85 cases and 170 controls. Cases were patients with cranial computed tomography images compatible with neurocysticercosis. The densitometric analysis (Hounsfield units) allowed us to distinguish normal tissue from physiological and pathological calcifications, and other types of lesions. Controls were admitted for neurocysticercosis but findings were not compatible with initial diagnosis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS and Epi-info 2002. RESULTS: The most common clinical manifestation in patients was epileptic seizures OR=4.2 (IC 95% 2.40-9.67). With regards to risk factors, consumption of street food OR=2.33 (IC 95% 1.25-4.38), and family history of neurocysticercosis OR= 2.37 (IC 95% 1.11-5.04) were found to be associated with neurocysticercosis. In the north central region of Mexico where this study was performed, the disease was more frequent among urban populations.

Factores de riesgo asociados a neurocisticercosis en un hospital público de México / Risk factors associated with neurocysticercosis in a public hospital in Mexico

Objetivo: Determinar los factores de riesgo asociados con neurocisticercosis en un hospital público de México. Material y métodos: Se analizaron factores socioeconómicos, demográficos, patrones higiénicos, dietéticos y antecedentes familiares asociados en 85 casos y 170 controles. La muestra se tomó de pacientes que acudieron al estudio de tomografía de cráneo. Los casos presentaron calcificaciones en cráneo compatibles con neurocisticercosis y de acuerdo con la densitometría (Unidades Hounsfield) se definió el tejido normal, las calcificaciones fisiológicas, patológicas así como otras lesiones. Los controles compartían la misma demanda de atención, sin presentar el evento en estudio. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizaron los paquetes computacionales SPSS v 11® y Epi-Info 2002®. Resultados: Las principales manifestaciones clínicas fueron las crisis convulsivas RM 4.2 (IC95% 2.40-9.67); se consideraron factores de riesgo: ingerir alimentos en vía pública RM 2.33 (IC95% 1.25-4.38) y tener antecedentes familiares de neurocisticercosis RM2.37 (IC95% 1.11-5.04), predominó en la población urbana, en la región centro norte de la República Mexicana.

OBJECTIVE: A case-control study was carried out to determine risk factors associated with neurocysticercosis in a public hospital in Mexico. METHODS: The following factors were analyzed: Socioeconomic, sociodemographic, hygiene, eating habits, and family history of neurocysticercosis in 85 cases and 170 controls. Cases were patients with cranial computed tomography images compatible with neurocysticercosis. The densitometric analysis (Hounsfield units) allowed us to distinguish normal tissue from physiological and pathological calcifications, and other types of lesions. Controls were admitted for neurocysticercosis but findings were not compatible with initial diagnosis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS and Epi-info 2002. RESULTS: The most common clinical manifestation in patients was epileptic seizures OR=4.2 (IC 95% 2.40-9.67). With regards to risk factors, consumption of street food OR=2.33 (IC 95% 1.25-4.38), and family history of neurocysticercosis OR= 2.37 (IC 95% 1.11-5.04) were found to be associated with neurocysticercosis. In the north central region of Mexico where this study was performed, the disease was more frequent among urban populations.