Characteristics and outcomes of pulmonary hydatid disease in children: About 70 cases

Abstract

Pulmonary hydatid disease is a significant health problem in children in endemic areas such as Tunisia. Pulmonary hydatid disease is more frequent than hepatic hydatid disease in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of pulmonary hydatid disease in children in our province which is endemic for echinococcosis. It9s a retrospective study conducted between 2002 and 2013 by reviewing the medical records of patients (≤18 years) who were diagnosed with pulmonary hydatid disease. A total of 70 patients with the diagnosis of pulmonary hydatid disease were enrolled in this study. The mean age was 11.36 (4 to 18) years. Symptoms were present in 57.7% of patients and dyspnea was the major complaint. Hydatoptosis was noticed in 15.7% of cases. An important diagnosis delay was found and estimated to 131.78 days. Misdiagnosis as benign bronchitis was the major cause of diagnosis delay. Hydatid cyst rupture was found at diagnosis in 61% of cases. Hepatopulmonary hydatidosis was found in 31.42% of cases. Diagnosis was easy in 58.6% of cases and made on clinical, Chest X ray and ultrasonography data and CT scan was necessary in 41.4% of cases because of atypic presentation. Surgical treatment was performed in all cases except one case of multiple hydatidosis and lobectomy was necessary in 13 cases (18.5%) . Although it9s a frequent disease in our country, diagnosis delay of pulmonary hydatid cyst remains important leading to complicated forms and a high rate of lobectomies.