Cystic Hydatid Disease in Children in Gorgan from 2014 to 2021

Background: Cystic hydatid disease is a serious human cestode infection caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Hydatidosis is an important health and economic problem in Iran. Objectives: This study aims to investigate clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and imaging of hydatidosis in children. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted based on the information recorded in the files of patients hospitalized due to hydatidosis at the Taleghani Children's Hospital in Gorgan from 2014 to 2021. The data was analyzed with the help of SPSS software version 25, utilizing descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. Results: Out of 58,974 patients admitted to Taleghani Hospital during 2014 - 2021, the frequency of hydatidosis was 42 (0.071%) cases. The patients comprised 78.5% boys and 21.5% girls, with an average age of 8.5 years ranging from 3 to 17 years old. A significant statistical difference was seen between the sexes (P = 0.012). There was a history of close contact with animals in 76.2% of patients and 73.9% of children in the village. The frequency of the total cyst was 75, and the most common location of the cyst was in the liver (60%) in the right lobe of the liver (54.6%) and then in the lung (36%) in the RLL region (17.4%). Single cysts (57.1%), unifocal cysts (61.9%), and CE1 cysts (40%) had the highest frequency. The most common symptom of liver involvement was abdominal pain (59.5%) and chronic cough in lung cysts (45.2%). Cysts with a size of 5 - 10 cm had the highest frequency (52%), and most were hypoechoic (48%). Positive serology test was reported in 11 cases (26.2%) and positive pathology in 22 cases (52.4%). The chance of hydatidosis in boys was 2.5 times higher than in girls, and in rural areas, it was more than three times higher than in urban areas. Conclusions: In this study, hydatidosis was more common in village boys aged 3-9. The liver and lung involvement were common, which required surgery in most cases. Considering the high prevalence of this disease in Gorgan, it is necessary to design an intervention plan to reduce children's burden, and a multidisciplinary approach should be planned to reduce its mortality and morbidity among children.