{ "schema_version": 1, "kind": "condition", "id": "cysticercosis", "name": "Cysticercosis", "category": "chronic", "sources": "ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class DD07.09 - condition scope only, no dose · Tapeworm - StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf NBK537154) - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537154/ · Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023 (albendazole monograph, p26)", "review_status": "reviewed", "verified_against": "Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023 (albendazole monograph, p26)", "verified_date": "2026-08", "treatments": [ { "id": 564, "generic": "Albendazole", "line": 1, "is_adjunct": false, "form": "oral.solid", "strength_mg": 400.0, "adult_dose": "15 mg/kg/day in two divided doses, each dose capped at 600 mg", "adult_duration": "8 to 30 days", "dose_source": "Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Antimicrobial 2023 (albendazole monograph, p26)", "rationale": "The formulary lists treatment of parenchymal neurocysticercosis due to active lesions caused by larval forms of the pork tapeworm as an indication for albendazole, and gives the weight-based rule below in the same monograph. Note that the dose and the maximum are HIGHER than for hydatid disease, and that the formulary attaches two conditions to it, both carried into the cautions.", "cautions": [ "A STEROID GOES WITH IT FOR THE FIRST WEEK. The formulary states that patients should receive a corticosteroid concurrently for the first week of albendazole therapy: killing the cysts inflames the brain around them.", "AND AN ANTICONVULSANT AS REQUIRED, in the formulary's own words. Seizures are how neurocysticercosis usually presents and how treatment can make it worse.", "THIS IS SPECIALIST TREATMENT. Imaging of the brain, the number and stage of the lesions, and whether the cysts sit outside the brain parenchyma all change what is given and whether a drug should be given at all. Refer. What is set out here is what the drug treatment is, not permission to start it unsupervised.", "Do not give to anyone with a known allergy to albendazole or another benzimidazole." ], "peds_mgkg_low": 7.5, "peds_mgkg_high": 7.5, "peds_max_mg": 600.0, "peds_basis": "dose", "peds_unit": "mg", "peds_note": "Parenchymal neurocysticercosis in children and adolescents: 7.5 mg/kg per dose twice daily for 8 to 30 days, each dose capped at 600 mg. The grid above is per dose - twice this amount is given in 24 hours.", "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": null, "peds_doses": [ { "weight_kg": 10, "low_mg": 75, "high_mg": 75, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 20, "low_mg": 150, "high_mg": 150, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 30, "low_mg": 225, "high_mg": 225, "capped": false }, { "weight_kg": 40, "low_mg": 300, "high_mg": 300, "capped": false } ], "brands": [ { "trade_name": "ALBENDAZOLE 400 MG 6 TABS", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "PHARMA CURE PHARMACEUTICALS > PHARMA CURE", "price_egp": 46.0, "pack_count": 6, "unit_price": 7.67, "strength_mg": 400.0, "exact_strength": true, "exact_form": true, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "ANTIZOLE 100MG/5ML SUSP. 30ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "ALEXANDRIA", "price_egp": 19.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 100.0, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null }, { "trade_name": "ALZENTAL 20MG/ML SUSP. 20ML", "scientific_name": null, "normalized_ingredient": null, "manufacturer": "EIPICO", "price_egp": 21.0, "pack_count": null, "unit_price": null, "strength_mg": 20.0, "exact_strength": false, "exact_form": false, "discontinued": false, "also_contains": null } ], "condition_id": "cysticercosis" }, { "id": 565, "generic": "Referral & safety-netting (no drug therapy)", "line": 1, "is_adjunct": false, "form": null, "strength_mg": null, "adult_dose": "Tissue infection with pork-tapeworm larvae; rare in Egypt given low pork consumption. If neurocysticercosis is suspected (new seizures), GP starts an anticonvulsant and refers urgently for brain imaging, since antiparasitic treatment must be specialist-supervised because of the risk of triggering brain swelling.", "adult_duration": "Refer, with advice", "dose_source": "No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care", "rationale": "Tissue infection with pork-tapeworm larvae; rare in Egypt given low pork consumption. If neurocysticercosis is suspected (new seizures), GP starts an anticonvulsant and refers urgently for brain imaging, since antiparasitic treatment must be specialist-supervised because of the risk of triggering brain swelling.", "cautions": [ "Rare in Egyptian primary care.", "The drug rows above are what the treating service gives. They are here so that the referral is an informed one and so the GP can recognise the regimen the patient comes back on - not as permission to start it without the referral.", "RED FLAG - A new-onset seizure, a focal neurological deficit, or signs of raised intracranial pressure (severe headache, vomiting, visual change): refer urgently." ], "peds_mgkg_low": null, "peds_mgkg_high": null, "peds_max_mg": null, "peds_basis": null, "peds_unit": null, "peds_note": "Children follow the same pathway: recognise and refer. No primary-care medicine is implied.", "peds_min_weight_kg": null, "peds_max_weight_kg": null, "peds_age_min_months": null, "peds_age_max_months": null, "peds_age_bands": null, "peds_doses": null, "brands": [], "condition_id": "cysticercosis" } ] }