- Causes: Hydatid Cyst are caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, a tapeworm. Human infection occurs through ingestion of contaminated food or water, leading to larval deposition primarily in the liver and lungs.
- Presentation: Symptoms may not appear until the cyst grows large enough to cause pressure on surrounding tissues. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and an abdominal mass. Complications such as cyst rupture can lead to anaphylaxis or secondary infection.
- Investigation: Diagnosis involves imaging studies such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to visualize the cysts. Serological tests, like ELISA or indirect hemagglutination, can aid in diagnosis by detecting specific antibodies.
- Diagnosis: Clinical evaluation, along with imaging studies and serological tests, helps confirm the diagnosis of hydatid cyst. Imaging reveals characteristic cystic lesions, while serology confirms the presence of specific antibodies.
- Treatment: The treatment of hydatid cysts involves a combination of medical and surgical approaches. Surgical removal of the cyst is the mainstay of treatment, often supplemented with antiparasitic medications like albendazole or mebendazole to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Hydatid disease is called Echinococcosis. Echinococcal disease is parasitic infection by the tapeworm Echinococcus Granulosus, mainly at its larval stage. One of the main types of disease is cystic Echinococcosis or hydatid cyst. Domestic dogs and foxes are natural carriers of hydatid disease. The treatment to this condition can be complicated, expensive requiring surgical intervention and drug therapy. Clinical characteristics depend upon the size of the cyst, the organs involved and depth of adjacent infection to other organs.
Causes Of Hydatid Cyst
A tapeworm requires at least two hosts to complete its life cycle in animals; the intermediate host and definitive host. In humans the infections happen when the human is an intermediate host.
Intermediate host
People are usually infected when they come in contact with dogs or other animals who are carriers of the Echinococcus. It takes a long time and many years for the cyst to persist and grow very large in humans. Once infected, it moves through the bloodstream and into the organs, lodging themselves to form watery cysts. The cysts are full of tapeworm heads. Hydatid disease is not contagious and is not passed on from one person to another upon human contact.
Hydatid Cyst Symptoms
The symptoms to the disease predominantly depend upon the organ that has been affected. It is usually the liver that is affected with hydatid disease. Sometimes they are also found in the heart, bone and thyroid gland. There are no evident immediate symptoms, since it may take months and even years for the cyst to develop. Once developed some of the symptoms are:-
- If cyst is ruptured, individual can cough blood or fluid from the cyst
- Jaundice
- Weight loss
- Stomach upset
- Diarrhoea
- Anemia
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Severe cough
- Swollen abdomen
Hydatid Disease Diagnosis
The diagnosis for hydatid disease usually starts with medical history given by the patient. Besides physical examination, the following diagnosis may also be conducted:
- Ultrasound
- X-ray
- CT scan
- MRI
- Blood tests – for antibodies
- Urine, sputum, faeces and other body fluids are examined for signs of ruptured cysts