Parasitic Infections

Parasitic diseases (caused by protozoa and helminths) of the CNS affect millions of people in the developing world, where most infections are linked to poverty and related conditions. In addition, increased tourism and immigration have turned some formerly geographically restricted parasitic infections into widespread conditions. The most common protozoal infections affecting the CNS include malaria, toxoplasmosis, trypanosomiasis, and amebiasis by free-living ameba or by Entamoeba histolytica; frequent helminthic infections include neurocysticercosis, hydatid disease, paragonimiasis, schistosomiasis, and toxocariasis. Together these parasitic infections are responsible for significant neurological morbidity throughout the world.