Parasitic Diseases: Nervous System Effects

Of the large number of parasites that may infect humans, some have a characteristic predilection for involvement of the nervous system, whereas other infections are only rarely associated with neurological manifestations. This article does not exhaustively list all parasites reported to have possible neurological effects, but instead discusses those infections that are most likely to present with symptoms related to the nervous system. Specific infections covered include malaria, toxoplasmosis, amebic encephalitis, microsporidiosis, African and American trypanosomiasis, angiostrongyliasis, gnathostomiasis, strongyloidiasis, trichinellosis, visceral larva migrans, schistosomiasis, paragonimiasis, fascioliasis, cysticercosis, and echinococcosis.