Enfermedades neuroinfecciosas

Abstracto

Case of Cerebral Hydatid Cyst, Rare Parasitic Brain Infection Presenting as Refractory Epilepsy

Arif Hussain Sarmast, Humam Nisar Tank, Nayil Khursheed Malik, Basharat Mujtaba and Abrar Ahad Wani

Cystic hydatidosis is a rare disease which mainly involves the liver and lungs, and rarely the brain. Cysts may be single or multiple. Usually neurohydatidosis with features of raised intracranial pressure such as headache and nausea vomiting or focal neuro-deficits but rarely as refractory epilepsy. We had a 10 year old boy presenting with refractory epilepsy without any focal localizing neurological signs. Brain imaging revealed a huge cystic structure involving the left side of the brain. A diagnosis of brain hydatid cyst was made and the patient was operated on. A large cyst was successfully delivered without rupture. Antihelminthic medication was started and the patient was discharged with no new seizure episodes during 6 month follow up. Hydatid cysts must not be overlooked as a differential diagnosis in children with cystic brain lesions. Surgery is the standard method of treatment, and it is vital to recover the cyst without rupture to avoid severe complications and recurrence.