Hydatid Disease in Iranian Children

Background And Purpose: Hydatidosis is a major public health problem that can cause significant morbidity and mortality; however, it is possible to control and even eradicate the disease. This study was carried out to investigate pediatric hydatidosis in Iran.

Methods: Data were collected from the records of 31 patients admitted to the Children Medical Center Hospital in Tehran, Iran, with hydatidosis from 1995 to 2005. Data collected included demographic data, and information on clinical manifestations, type and site of cysts, laboratory results, and therapeutic procedures employed.

Results: Eighteen patients (58%) were male and 13 (42%) female. The mean age of patients was 8.3 years. On serological study, almost all patients (96%) were found to be positive for hydatidosis. Sixteen cases (52%) had a history of contact with dogs or sheep, and 6 (19%) had parents who were farmers. Cysts were found in the lungs and livers of 24 (77%) and 15 cases (48%), respectively, with 8 cases (26%) having simultaneous liver and lung cysts. Three patients (10%) had multiorgan involvement. The significant clinical manifestations of pulmonary hydatid cysts were cough (92%), fever (83%), and dyspnea (46%). Fever (100%) and hepatomegaly (87%) were the most common symptoms in cases with hepatic cysts. All patients underwent surgery and treatment with albendazole, and recurrence was observed in 2 cases (6%).

Conclusions: Hydatidosis is endemic throughout Iran. Thus, there are reasonable grounds to suspect hydatid cyst infection in patients presenting with cysts in any organ with either an appropriate residential or travel history or in the case of children, with parents in occupations such as sheep raising.