Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cystic echinococcosis in children from a tertiary center in Peru. / Características clínicas y epidemiológicas de equinococosis quística en niños de un centro terciario en Perú.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) in children is a public health problem. To describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of CE, we reviewed the records of 55 children admitted to our institution with a confirmed diagnosis of CE between 2017-2019, analyzing demographic data, clinical manifestations, and treatment. Of the population, 61.8% (34/55) were male. The mean age was 9.25 years (SD: 2.79); 16.4% had previous CE diagnosis, and 50.9% had contact with dogs. The median time of illness was 2 months. Of the patients, 65.5% had hepatic involvement, 56.4% had pulmonary involvement, and 21.8% had both hepatic and pulmonary involvement. The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain (80.6%) and cough (80.6%). Surgical treatment was performed in 87.5% of patients with hepatic CE, in 100% of those with pulmonary CE and in 100% of those with hepatic and pulmonary CE. Albendazole was prescribed in 100% of hepatic cases, in 73.7% of pulmonary cases, and in 75% of those with both conditions. Mortality was not reported.

La equinococosis quística (EQ) en niños es un problema de salud pública. Para describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de la EQ se revisaron los registros de 55 niños con diagnóstico confirmado de EQ admitidos entre 2017 y 2019 en un centro quirúrgico referencial del Perú. Se analizaron los datos demográficos, las manifestaciones clínicas y el tratamiento. El 61,8% (34/55) de los niños fue de sexo masculino. La edad promedio fue de 9,25 años (DE: 2,79); un 16,4% tuvo diagnóstico previo de EQ, y un 50,9% tuvo contacto con perros. La mediana de tiempo de enfermedad fue de dos meses. El 65,5% tuvo afectación hepática, el 56,4% pulmonar y el 21,8% hepática y pulmonar. Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron dolor abdominal (80,6%) y tos (80,6%). El tratamiento quirúrgico se realizó en el 87,5% de los casos con EQ hepática y en el 100% de los casos con EQ pulmonar y EQ hepática y pulmonar. Se prescribió albendazol en el 100% de casos hepáticos, en el 73,7% de casos pulmonares y en el 75% de ambas afectaciones. No se reporta mortalidad.

Paediatric pulmonary echinococcosis: A neglected disease.

Echinococcosis is a worldwide public health problem causing considerable paediatric morbidity and mortality in endemic areas. The presentation of cystic echinococcosis (CE) varies by age. Unlike adults, where hepatic involvement is common, pulmonary CE is the dominant site in the paediatric population. Pulmonary cysts are typically first seen on chest X-ray, either as an incidental finding or following respiratory symptoms after cyst rupture or secondary infection of the cyst. In children, pulmonary cysts have a broad differential diagnosis, and a definitive diagnosis relies on the combination of imaging, serology, and histology. In countries with high infectious burdens from diseases such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and tuberculosis (TB), the diagnosis is additionally challenging, as atypical infections are more common than in developed countries. Pulmonary CE is treated with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.

Relevance of Pulmonary Alveolar Echinococcosis / Relevancia de equinococosis alveolar con afectación pulmonar

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary alveolar echinococcosis (PAE) is a chronic disease caused by Echinococcus multilocularis with very low incidence in developed countries. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study included 34 patients who were diagnosed with PAE between January 2001 and February 2019 (15 males, 19 females, mean age: 52.4 ± 15.8 years, age range: 28-78 years) in Ataturk University Medical School, Erzurum, Turkey. RESULTS: The liver was the primary involved organ in all cases. Pulmonary involvement was detected in 13.0% (34/261) of all cases with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE), and three patients (8.8%) had both pulmonary metastasis and brain metastasis. The route of spread to the lungs based on radiological data was hematogeneous in 25 patients (73.5%), transdiaphragmatic in three patients (8.8%) and both hematogeneous and transdiaphragmatic in six patients (17.7%). AE showed bilateral involvement in 19 patients (55.9%), whereas only the right lung was involved in 12 patients (35.3%) and the left lung in three patients (8.8%). Of the patients, five underwent surgery due to PAE and 29 patients received medical therapy with albendazole. A total of three patients died during the follow-up period (2, 5 and 10 years after the diagnosis of PAE), while 31 patients continued with follow-up and treatment for a mean duration of 5.4 ± 3.8 years (1-14 years). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hepatic AE must, as a matter of course, be screened for possible lung involvement. Albendazole therapy may slow down disease progression in patients with widespread pulmonary involvement who are not eligible for surgery

INTRODUCCIÓN: La equinococosis alveolar con afectación pulmonar (PAE) es una enfermedad crónica causada por Echinococcus multilocularis, cuya incidencia es muy baja en los países desarrollados. MÉTODOS: Estudio unicéntrico, retrospectivo en el cual se diagnosticaron 34 pacientes con PAE entre enero de 2001 y febrero de 2019 (15 varones y 19 mujeres, edad media: 52,4 ± 15,8 años, rango de edad: 28-78 años) en la Escuela Médica Univesitaria de Ataturk, Erzurum, Turquía. RESULTADOS: En el total de los casos incluidos en el estudio el hígado fue el principal órgano afectado. La afectación pulmonar se detectó en el 13% (34/261) de los casos con equinococosis alveolar (AE), y 3 pacientes (8,8%) presentaron tanto metástasis pulmonar como cerebral. De acuerdo con los datos radiológicos, la propagación a los pulmones fue por vía hematógena en 25 pacientes (73,5%), transdiafragmática en 3 pacientes (8,8%) y tanto hematógena como transdiafragmática en 6 pacientes (17,7%). Diecinueve pacientes (55,9%) presentaron PAE con afectación pulmonar bilateral, mientras que 12 pacientes (35,3%) presentaron afectación solo del pulmón derecho y 3 (8,8%) solo del izquierdo. De todos los pacientes, 5 fueron sometidos a cirugía debido a la PAE y 29 recibieron tratamiento médico con albendazol. Tres pacientes fallecieron durante el período de seguimiento (2,5 y 10 años después del diagnóstico de PAE), mientras que 31 continuaron con el seguimiento y el tratamiento durante 5,4±3,8 años de media (1-14 años). CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes con AE hepática se deben cribar de manera rutinaria para detectar una posible afectación pulmonar. El tratamiento con albendazol puede ralentizar la progresión de la enfermedad en pacientes con afectación pulmonar extendida que no son aptos para cirugía

Hidatidosis pulmonar: hallazgos y tratamiento quirúrgico en quistes complicados versus no complicados / Pulmonary hydatidosis: findings and surgical treatment in complicated versus uncomplicated cysts

Resumen Introducción: La hidatidosis humana es una zoonosis prevalente en nuestro medio, causada principalmente por el parásito Echinococcus granulosus. Las complicaciones más frecuentes en el pulmón son la rotura y la infección del quiste. Objetivos: Describir y comparar características clínicas, tratamiento, morbilidad y mortalidad de los pacientes hospitalizados por quiste hidatídico pulmonar (QHP) complicado versus no complicado. Materiales y Método: Estudio analítico longitudinal. Período enero de 1973 - diciembre de 2017 en Hospital Clínico Regional de Concepción "Dr. Guillermo Grant Benavente", Chile. Revisión de base de datos, protocolos de QHP y fichas clínicas. Se utilizó planilla Microsoft Excel® y programa SPSS24®, con función chi cuadrado y t de Student. Se consideró significativo p < 0,05. Resultados: Total 364 episodios de QHP, complicados 179 (49,2%) versus no complicados 185 (50,8%). Edad promedio 36,4 ± 18,9 versus 32,4 ± 19,1 años, hombres 114 (63,7%) versus 107 (57,8%), respectivamente. Se encontró diferencia estadísticamente significativa en: sintomatología tos 147 (82,1%) versus 120 (64,9%), hemoptisis 93 (52,0%) versus 45 (24,3%), respectivamente; QHP derecho 115 (64,2%) versus 99 (53,5%), respectivamente; cirugía conservadora 139 (77,7%) versus 167 (90,3%), reoperaciones 22 (12,3%) versus 8 (4,3%), respectivamente; morbilidad 47 (26,3%) versus 30 (16,2%), mortalidad 6 (3,4%) versus 0 (0%), estadía hospitalaria postoperatoria promedio 16,1 ± 14,3 versus 10,7 ± 7,7 días, recidivas 15 (8,4%) versus 13 (7,0%), respectivamente. Discusión: Aproximadamente la mitad de los QHP son complicados. Los QHP complicados presentan diferencias estadísticamente significativas en su clínica, tratamiento, morbilidad, mortalidad y estadía hospitalaria postoperatoria.

Background: Human hydatidosis is a prevalent zoonosis in our environment, caused mainly by the Echinococcus granulosus parasite. The most common complications in the lung are cyst rupture and infection. Aim: To describe and compare clinical characteristics, treatment, morbidity and mortality of patients hospitalized for complicated versus uncomplicated hydatid pulmonary cyst (HPC). Materials and Method: Longitudinal analytical study. Period January 1973 - December 2017 at the Regional Clinical Hospital of Concepción "Dr. Guillermo Grant Benavente", Chile. Database, prospective protocols and medical records were reviewed. Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet and SPSS24® program with chi square and Student's t-test were used. It was considered significant p < 0.05. Results: Total 364 episodes of HPC, complicated 179 (49.2%) versus uncomplicated 185 (50.8%). Average age 36.4 ± 18.9 versus 32.4 ± 19.1 years, male 114 (63.7%) versus 107 (57.8%), respectively. A statistically significant difference was found in: symptomatology cough 147 (82.1%) versus 120 (64.9%), hemoptysis 93 (52.0%) versus 45 (24.3%), respectively; HPC right 115 (64.2%) versus 99 (53.5%), respectively; resective cyst surgery 139 (77.7%) versus 167 (90.3%), reoperation 22 (12.3%) versus 8 (4.3%), respectively; morbidity 47 (26.3%) versus 30 (16.2%), mortality 6 (3.4%) versus 0 (0%), average postoperative hospital stay 16.1 ± 14.3 versus 10.7 ± 7.7 days, recurrence 15 (8.4%) versus 13 (7.0%), respectively. Conclusions: Approximately half of the HPCs are complicated. Complicated HPCs present statistically significant differences in their clinical, treatment, morbidity, mortality and postoperative hospital stay.

[Management of massive hemoptysis secondary to pulmonary hydatidosis: Special features]. / Particularités de la prise en charge de l'hémoptysie massive d'origine hydatique.

INTRODUCTION: Massive hemoptysis is a rare but serious presentation of pulmonary hydatid cysts. The literature reporting this clinical phenomenon is limited to sporadic cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We undertook a retrospective study considering patients who had undergone lung surgery because of hydatid cyst from January 2000 o December 2015 and examined features associated with massive hemoptysis. RESULTS: Among 270 patients operated on for lung hydatidosis, 13 (4.8%) had experienced massive hemoptysis. This sub group had an average age of 24±12 years (13-60 years) and a sex ratio of 0.85. Preoperative embolization was attempted in 5 patients but failed in all cases. All patients with massive hemoptysis were operated on emergency. The origin of bleeding was determined and controlled in all cases (from a vein or an artery from the pulmonary circulation). Pulmonary re-expansion was satisfactory after obliteration of the residual cavity and no pulmonary resection was necessary. The postoperative course was uneventful in 11 patients. Prolonged air-leak beyond 7 days was noted in two patients but settled subsequently with simple follow-up. Average postoperative follow-up was 32 months (8-63 months). One patient (who had hydatid vomit with massive hemoptysis) developed controlateral hydatid recurrence that was also successfully operated on. No recurrence of hemoptysis was noted during the follow-up period for all patients. CONCLUSION: Massive haemoptysis secondary to pulmonary hydatidosis may be life-threatening. Surgery of hydatid cysts associated with direct vascular control of eroded vessels is sufficient to control hemoptysis.

Concomitant Pulmonary Cystic Echinococcosis and Aspergillosis in a Male Child.

Co-infection of cystic echinococcosis and aspergillosis is a rare finding. The patient was a 10-year-old boy complaining of chest pain and malaise with a cyst in the right lung who underwent surgical resection of the cyst. Medical therapy with albendazole was started for the patient with the initial clinical impression of cystic echinococcosis. Later, the microscopic evaluation revealed a laminated layer of cystic echinococcosis involved by acute angle branching hyaline hyphae with septate. Thus, the diagnosis of a cystic echinococcosis and aspergillosis co-infection was established. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment along with anthelminthic and anti-fungal therapy, especially in immunocompromised patients.

Rare Cause of Tension Pneumothorax: Hydatid Disease of Lung: A Case Report.

Lung is the second most common site of hydatid disease, after liver. Pleural involvement of hydatid disease can occur, and usually follows the rupture of a pulmonary or hepatic hydatid cyst into the pleural space. When a patient presents with tension pneumothorax, zoonotic infections, especially hydatid disease of the lung, also has to be considered especially in areas with high burden of the disease. We report a 31 years male patient presenting with tension pneumothorax due to rupture of hydatid cyst of lung.

Imported hepatopulmonary echinococcosis: first report of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (G1) in Bolivia.

Hepatopulmonary hydatidosis in young children is a rare and atypical presentation of Echinococcus granulosus infection. We report the first case of cystic echinococcosis caused by a microvariant of E. granulosus sensu stricto. Chemotherapy and systemic corticoids were administered before curative surgery was performed. Recurrence was not observed for more than 24 months of follow-up.

Imported hepatopulmonary echinococcosis: first report of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (G1) in Bolivia

Abstract Hepatopulmonary hydatidosis in young children is a rare and atypical presentation of Echinococcus granulosus infection. We report the first case of cystic echinococcosis caused by a microvariant of E. granulosus sensu stricto. Chemotherapy and systemic corticoids were administered before curative surgery was performed. Recurrence was not observed for more than 24 months of follow-up.

Intracardiac and pulmonary artery hydatidosis causing thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Hydatidosis is a serious parasitic infection in endemic areas. A rare presentation is pulmonary arterial cysts causing thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. We report the case of a young man who presented with clinical and radiological findings of thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The patient was found to have hydatid cysts in both pulmonary arteries and in the right ventricular outflow tract. To remove all cysts without causing rupture, anaphylactic shock or systemic emboli, placing the patient under cardiopulmonary arrest was necessary, and in the case of pulmonary arterial involvement, total circulatory arrest was necessary. The cysts were removed successfully, and the patient survived the operation. The patient is being followed up on albendazole treatment. Myocardial preservation and management of total circulatory arrest are the cornerstones of a successful surgical outcome.

Subretinal echinococcosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Echinococcosis is a dangerous zoonotic parasitic disease. Ocular echinococcosis is very rare, especially the hydatid cysts in subretinal space. We present a case of subretinal echinococcosis and management. CASE PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old man with subretinal echinococcosis who developed panuveitis and visual impairment. The patient lives on agriculture and animal husbandry, which made him susceptible to parasitic infection. He had severe panuveitis and blurred vision on arrival at hospital. According to his ocular examination and systemic review, the subretinal echinococcosis diagnosis was made. The patient received pars plana lensectomy and pars plana vitrectomy. The lesion underneath his retina was removed, and histopathology examination confirmed the subretinal echinococcosis diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Echinococcosis is a dangerous zoonotic parasitic disease in pastoral areas. Ocular echinococcosis is usually secondary to systemic infection. Although the incidence is rare, the disease could lead to destructive visual function impairment.

Diagnosis at a glance of radiological imaging.

A 14-year-old boy was referred to our outpatient department with complaints of dry cough, high-grade fever for 20 days and chest X-ray (CXR) opacity. The clinical examination was normal. His CXR showed a right mid-zone lobulated, homogenous opacity. Computed tomography (CT) of thorax showed a well-defined cystic lesion in right upper lobe with 5-10HU (Hounsfield unit) suggesting a fluid filled cyst. CT guided aspiration of cyst was undertaken and revealed clear fluid with no cells. Post-aspiration high-resolution CT images demonstrated classical signs of hydatid cyst.

Evaluation of Patients with Cystic Echinococcosis.

OBJECTIVE: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a globally prevalent zoonotic disease. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and follow-up data of patients between May 2009 and 2015 were retrospectively analyzed by screening data from a hospital automation system. RESULTS: A total of 238 (females, n=139 and males, n=99) patients with a mean age of 40.6±20.58 years were included. Less than half (40.8%) of the patients were living in the countryside. Hepatic involvement of CE was most frequently (72.2%) seen. A majority (75.6%) of the patients were symptomatic, but abdominal pain was the most frequently seen symptom. For diagnosis, in all patients, imaging modalities were used, while in 66% of the patients, serological methods were also employed. The patients received both medical and surgical treatments (78.5%, n=187), only surgical treatment (10.5%, n=25), or only medical treatment (8.8%, n=21). Surgical treatment was performed for patients with hepatic (n=139/176, 80.6%), pulmonary (n=78/94, 82.9%), splenic (n=7/9; 77.7%), and mesenteric (n=6/7, 85.1%) cysts, and patients cases with brain, bone, muscle, omentum, bladder, and adrenal cysts had undergone surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: Publication of regional data is important in terms of epidemiological considerations and may aid in the formulation of standard treatment approaches.

[A CASE OF FAMILIAL PULMONARY AND HEPATIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS)].

Echinococcus granulosus still remains a widespread disease. Moreover, there is a large number of patients in whom it is diagnosed rather late because its clinical presentation can be unspecific and symptoms vary. We report a familial case of the disease. Its specific feature was the onset with the bilateral pulmonary process and late involvement of the liver. This excluded other pulmonary diseases, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis or cancer.

Watch and Wait Management of Inactive Cystic Echinococcosis - Does the Path to Inactivity Matter - Analysis of a Prospective Patient Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Overdiagnosis and overtreatment are rarely discussed in the context of NTDs despite their relevance for patients under the care of health services with limited resources where the risks of therapy induced complications are often disproportionate to the benefit. The advantages of cyst staging-based management of patients with cystic echinococcosis (CE) are not yet fully explored. Questions are: Do inactive cysts (CE 4 and CE 5) need treatment and is there a difference between cysts which reach CE4 and CE5 naturally or by benzimidazole therapy? METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Analysis of long-term follow-up data from a prospective CE patient cohort of 223 patients of a national clinical center for echinococcosis. The event of interest "relapse" was defined as the reversal of a cyst from an inactive stage (CE4, CE5) back to an active stage. The watch &wait (ww) group included 30 patients with 46 inactive cysts who never received medical treatment. The benzimidazole-treated (med) group included 15 patients with 17 cysts. There was no relapse in the ww-group whereas 8/17 cysts showed relapse within 18 months after treatment in the med-group. Loss to follow-up was 15.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Data from the watch & wait group impressively show how stable naturally inactivated cysts are in contrast to cysts which reach inactivity through treatment with benzimidazoles. A substantial proportion of patients can be spared from treatment through cyst staging. Cysts which inactivated through a natural course do not relapse with very high likelihood. We recommend follow up of 5 years to confirm the stability of the inactive stage. Cysts driven into inactivity through benzimidazole therapy instead need careful monitoring to identify those which reactivate (around 50% within 18 months). 5 years follow-up appears safe to make a final decision on the need for further monitoring.