Burns and epileptic fits associated with cysticercosis in mountain people of Irian Jaya.

The number of patients with burns, admitted to the hospital in Enarotali, Central highlands of Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia, markedly increased during the last years. Before 1973 only a few cases were hospitalized whereas from 1973 to 1976 157 cases were admitted. Most of the burns (74.5%) were classified as third and fourth degree burns. Clinical observation and stool examination revealed epileptic seizures, cysticercus-nodules and eggs or proglottids of Taenia in respectively 62.8%, 33.1% and 16.6% of the cases with burns. Among infants, burns were not associated with clinical manifestations of cerebral cysticercosis. In the age group of over 11 years 88 out of 121 cases had epileptic seizures before or during hospitalization. It is assumed that the increasing number of burns during the last years is caused by the high prevalence of cerebral cysticercosis.