A 12-year-old girl presents with seizures and CT shows calcified nodules. What organism is likely responsible for her condition?

• A. Taenia solium
• B. Toxoplasma gondii
• C. Cryptococcus neoformans
• D. Listeria monocytogenes

Answer: (A)

The condition described in the scenario involves a young girl experiencing seizures alongside CT findings of calcified nodules. The most likely organism responsible for this presentation is Taenia solium, which is the pork tapeworm.

This infection can lead to a condition known as neurocysticercosis, which occurs when the larval form of Taenia solium infects the central nervous system. The calcified nodules observed on the CT scan are characteristic of the dead larvae, or cysts, in the brain tissue and can lead to symptoms such as seizures due to irritation of the cortical structures.

Understanding neurocysticercosis is vital, as it can arise in regions where undercooked pork is consumed or where sanitation practices may allow for the spread of fecal material containing the eggs of the tapeworm. The presence of seizures, particularly in a child, in combination with the specific imaging findings provides strong evidence supporting Taenia solium as the causative agent in this case.