A retrospective hospital study of human cystic echinococcosis in Egypt

ABSTRACT

We performed a retrospective study to determine annual clinical incidence of human cystic echinococcosis [CE] in 14 Egyptian hospitals between January 1997 and December 1999. From 492 353 records examined, 133 [0.027%] new human CE cases were recorded. Of these, 50 [37.6%] were from Alexandria and Matrouh hospitals, 33 [24.8%] from Giza Chest Hospital and 50 from other regions. Matrouh governorate had the highest annual clinical incidence [1.34-2.60 per 100 000] followed by Giza governorate [0.80-1.16 per 100 000]. About a third of those affected were aged </= 20 years. Liver and lungs were the organs most affected. Although human CE is of low endemicity in Egypt, it may-represent a public health concern in Matrouh and Giza governorates