The diagnosis is made primarily via CT scanning or MRI demonstrating calcified, hypodense or ring-enhancing larval cysts Antibody assays detecting IgG to T solium in the CSF and serum are the confirmatory diagnostic tests available via the CDC and multiple commercial laboratories Serum serologies are more sensitive than CSF serologies Neurocysticercosis treatment has to be individualized on the basis of the number and viability of cysts present on neuroimaging and where they are located Calcified, or nonviable cysts, only require symptomatic treatment and anticonvulsant therapy in children with seizures Parenchymal cysts without enhancement typically respond to antihelminthic treatment: albendazole (15 mg/kg/day, max 1,200 mg, in two doses for 14 days) Praziquantel (50 mg/kg/day in doses × 9–13 days) should be considered for patients with >2 viable cysts Albendazole is better tolerated than praziquantel, is indicated for children of all ages, and does not interact with most antiepileptic medications One large meta-analysis found that antihelminthic treatment was associated with decreased seizure frequency and more rapid radiographic resolution of granulomas that form around cysts Coadministration of corticosteroids for the initial to days of treatment is recommended if extensive CNS involvement is suspected, but is not associated with improved neurologic outcomes Clinicians should be aware that patients may have paradoxical worsening during therapy, as most of the CNS effects of neurocysticercosis are immune mediated and often worsen as the host inflammatory response is activated Anticonvulsant therapy is recommended until resolution of neurologic symptoms and patient has been seizure free for years Surgical excision is generally recommended for intraventricular and ocular cysts Standard precautions should be observed Rabies Rabies is an almost uniformly fatal zoonotic infection caused by a rhabdovirus While most commonly spread to humans from dogs internationally (more than 95% of cases occur in Africa and Asia), the majority of U.S cases are caused by exposure to bats and wild carnivores (raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes) Among domesticated animals, cats are reported as rabid three times more commonly than dogs The incubation period is longer for bites on the distal extremities than on the trunk or face The two major clinical syndromes are furious and paralytic rabies; each lasts approximately to 10 days Furious rabies consists of hyperesthesia at the bite site, agitation, confusion, hallucinations, aerophobia, and hydrophobia; in the absence of an exposure history, early symptoms can be difficult to differentiate from psychiatric illness Paralytic rabies (approximately 30% of all cases) begins with paresis of the muscles surrounding the bite site and progress to generalized paralysis This form often is underreported There are a few case reports of rabies survivors (protocol available at www.mcw.edu/rabies ), but treatment generally is supportive; contact precautions should be used Pre-exposure prophylaxis with the rabies vaccine is recommended for veterinarians and others at risk for bites from wild or domesticated animals PEP indications are summarized in e-Table 94.21 and include both the rabies vaccine and receipt of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) The diagnosis is clinical, with culture or PCR of stool or pharyngeal swabs serving as confirmatory tests Treatment is supportive Contact precautions are recommended African Trypanosomiasis African trypanosomiasis (“African sleeping sickness”) is a protozoal infection transmitted through the bite of the tsetse fly Wild animals serve as the reservoir for Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (East African trypanosomiasis), whereas humans are the most important reservoir for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (West African trypanosomiasis) Clinical manifestations vary by subspecies An erythematous swelling or chancre at the site of the fly bite, intermittent high fevers, retrobulbar headache, posterior cervical adenopathy (Winterbottom sign), myalgia, and myocarditis can be preceded by the meningoencephalitis Chronic meningoencephalitis is associated with behavioral changes, delusions, and the somnolence that result in the illness name Laboratory findings include anemia, thrombocytopenia, transaminitis, and, rarely, disseminated intravascular coagulation During the acute phase, trypomastigotes are often detectable on blood smears of buffy coats or aspirates of lymph nodes Serologies are not available for East African trypanosomiasis Early treatment is essential because the prognosis is poor once CNS involvement has occurred In the absence of CNS disease, pentamidine is used for West African and suramin for East African trypanosomiasis CNS involvement requires use of eflornithine for West African and melarsoprol for East African trypanosomiasis Drugs for trypanosomiasis are difficult to obtain in the United States and care should be coordinated via the CDC Drug Service: (404) 639-3670 Standard precautions are recommended CARDIAC INFECTIONS