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neurological deficits (limb weakness, visual disturbance,
aphasia, etc.). This might be attributed to the fact
that only the severe and disabling patient visited our
hospital. Furthermore, it is a popular in Nepalese practice
that most seizure patients initially visit traditional
healers before presenting to hospital. Similar to the
[4]
study of Bhattacharjee et al., [18] the frequency of status
epilepticus was low in our patient cohort. Consistent
with our observations, generalized seizure was common
in some other previous studies. [20,24] However, most
of them reported focal seizure as the major seizure
type. [15,25,26] A Nepalese pediatric study has also reported
focal seizure in about 30% of their patients. [21]

Figure 1: Clinical manifestations in neurocysticercosis patients Visiting traditional healers is popular among Nepalese
population, especially in remote areas. Furthermore,
[4]
acquired cause of the seizure. Low socioeconomic lack of personal health, low socioeconomic status, and
status, poor hygiene and improper management in imaging techniques are the challenges for diagnosis
pigs rearing are the causes of high NCC prevalence of NCC.
in Nepal. [10] Due to migration from rural areas, NCC
is recently increasing in its prevalence also in urban In conclusion, neurocysticercosis is a major cause
areas. In our study, about 30% of the patients were of acquired epilepsy in Nepal. Low economic status,
from Kathmandu valley. Recently, increasing NCC illiteracy, and underdeveloped rural society are the
prevalence in nonendemic or developed countries is major obstacles to prevention and treatment of NCC.
due to migrant workers and international travellers. [11] Due to economic factors and inaccessible AEDs in
Few studies from China, [12] Brazil [13,14] and India [15] also remote places in Nepal, discontinuation of the drug
have shown the higher NCC cases reported in urban is common. Proper management of NCC is needed to
areas. minimize the prevalence of epilepsy in developing
countries.
Our study shows NCC is common among young adults.
Male patients are more common than female among This is a single center study, and we were unable
NCC patients. Female predominance was seen in to recruit the desired number of patients. Due to
some studies. [16,17] Single NCC lesions are found to be unavailability and poor economic condition of most
more common than multiple NCC lesions [Table 2]. of the patients, serum anticysticercal antibodies test
Similar results were reported from various previous was performed in 2 patients only.
studies. [18‑20] However, a pediatric study from Nepal
reported higher prevalence of multiple lesions among ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
NCC patients. [21] No extraparenchymal lesions was
observed in our study, in contrast with what reported by We acknowledge with gratitude the efforts of record keeping
Basu et al. showing 20% of extraparenchymal lesions. department and nursing staffs of Neurology Unit, Bir Hospital.
[21]

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