The clinical and epidemiological features of hydatid disease in children in Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Objective: One of the most serious helminthic infections in humans with widespread occurrence is hydatid disease. This study was aimed to evaluate the characteristic of hydatid disease in children admitted to the Tabriz Children's Hospital in the eastern Azarbaijan Province in northwest of Iran. Methods and Materials: Over a period of 6 years (2001-2006) patients with diagnosis of hydatid cysts retrospectively identified. The clinical and epidemiologic data in these patients and therapeutic outcome were analysed. Results: Twenty three patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria. The mean age was 8.52 ± 3.088 years (range, 4 to 13 years). The male: female fatio was 1.09. Lung cysts were found in 17(73.9%) and liver cysts in 11 patients (47.8%). Seven patients (30.4%) had coexisting cysts in lungs and livers and 2 (8.7%) had cysts only in their kidneys. Conservative surgical treatment was carried out in all patients and cases who had multiple cysts received albendazol. Conclusion: This information may be useful for assessing the cost effectiveness of designing effective public health programs to control echinococcos in this and other endemic areas.