Aims and Objective To evaluate efficacy and safety of a specific cysticidal treatment regime in Indian patients with neurocysticercosis (NCC).

Materials and Methods We prospectively studied patients referred to us at the neurology outpatients and inpatients between January to December 2009. After making the new diagnosis of active “NCC” up to stage 3 patients eligible for the cysticidal treatment were given dexamethasone 16 mg/daily and was continued for a total of 3 weeks in a gradually tapered fashion. Following a pretreatment with steroid for 3–4 days we started oral albendazole at the dose of 15 mg/kg divided into three doses for 2 weeks.

Results Sixteen patients (11 M/5 F) were seen during the study period with active NCC recruited to the study. Fourteen patients (87.5%) presented with single lesions in stages 1 to 3. Two patients (12.5%) had multiple lesions. Following the cysticidal treatment regime, 15 (93.75%) patients had resolution of lesions on MR brain at 3-month. Complete resolution occurred in 11 (68.75%) patients at 3-month and partial resolution in 4 (25%) patients. None of the patients had cysticeral encephalopathy or increased incidence of seizures. 14 (87.5%) patients did not have any history of pork ingestion.

Conclusions The regime studied in Mexico is safe and well tolerated and it is efficacious in Indian patients. Pork ingestion is not a major factor in Indian population and human transmission and poor hand hygiene are likely to be more important.