Shibani Mukerji, MD/PhD
Neurology Resident, PGY3
Travel Grant: Infectious and Cardiovascular diseases in Peru
Greetings from Tumbes, Peru!
Colored by child with schizencephaly |
Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. It was started as a Neurocysticercosis (NCC) elimination center where the focus was on decreasing the incidence of taeniasis and cysticercosis through
Study pigs at the Center for Global Health |
NCC is one of the most common parasitic infections of the human CNS and a frequent cause of epilepsy worldwide. Neurocysticercosis is caused by an infection of the human central nervous system (CNS) by the larval stage of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium.
Understanding the life cycle of taeniasis and cysticercosis |
Donated EEG machine that sadly does not work |
From right to left: Dr. Moyano, Dr. Azabache, Lily, Vilma and myself |
On this trip to Tumbes, Dr. Moyano and I went to one of the local hospitals for consultation rounds where three Global Health clinic patients were admitted. One patient with well controlled seizures was recovering from Dengue. One patient with idiopathic epilepsy was admitted after a seizure of unknown etiology. Another patient recently started on Dilantin developed a allergic reaction but did not realize it and continued to take the medication despite developing oral mucosal breakdown. We were able to develop a plan for all these patients with a few limitations given that we don't have EEG machines, and antiepileptic levels are not typically gathered in real time. Given the limited access to neurologists, and no pediatric neurologists, Dr. Moyano and I plan to use Skype in the future to discuss interesting and complex cases with residents in the Partners neurology program. It is my hope that we can get more Partners neurology residents to this site for education and our own understanding of diseases here.
It is hard to believe that my time in Peru is coming to an end. This visit has provided me with an incredible insight into the fundamental understanding of the epidemiology and neurological manifestations of diseases endemic to Peru. There is an amazing network of physicians and projects here for research. I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Joseph Zunt and Silvia Montano for helping me arrange this visit and Dr. Hugo Garcia, his lab, Dr. Moyano and the people in the Global Health Center who welcomed me to both Lima and Tumbes and allowing me to participate in the care of their patients.
My sincerest thanks again to the Partners Global Health Travel Grant and Partners Neurology Residency, especially Vanya Sagar and Silvya Eaton and Drs. Tracey Milligan and Tracey Cho who actively encourage residents to seek out these opportunities and expand our focus globally.
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