Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients With Hydatid Cysts in Qom Province Hospitals From ۲۰۰۱ to ۲۰۱۹

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus granulosus, is acommon human and animal disease that occurs worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the clinicoepidemiologicalcharacteristics of patients with hydatid cyst in surgical cases from ۲۰۰۱ to ۲۰۱۹ in Qomhospitals.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Qom province, the center of Iran, from ۲۰۰۱ to۲۰۱۹. The study population included all cases with hydatid cyst who operated in governmental and privatehospitals. The participants’ characteristics such as age, gender, occupation, place of residence, organinvolved, clinical signs and, diagnosis and treatment methods were collected using a questionnaire. Thestatistical analysis was carried out using SPSS (version ۲۳) software package.Results: The results revealed that ۵۳.۲۱% and ۴۶.۷۹% of patients were females and males, respectively.Most cases were uban residents (۵۷.۶۹%), and ۶۲.۱۸% of them were housewives. Liver involvementwas the most common localization of hydatid cysts reported in ۷۳.۷% of patients. The main diagnosticprocedures were computed tomography scanning and indirect hemagglutination (IHA). Abdominal painwas reported in ۶۲.۲% of cases, and the most common treatment method for the disease was surgical(۸۴.۶%). Further, recurrence occurred in ۱۳.۴۷% of patients.Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the majority of patients with CE were housewives.Therefore, proper washing of fruits and vegetables is very important. To prevent the occurrence of CE, thepublic awareness level should be increased. In addition, educational programs must be conducted by theMinistry of Health to identify whether the control measures are needed in the high risk population.

Keywords:

Humans , Echinococcosis , Epidemiology , Zoonosis , Iran