Epidemiological Characteristics of Patients With Hydatid Cysts in Qom Province Hospitals From 2001 to 2019

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of the Echinococcus granulosus, is a common human and animal disease that occurs worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the clinico-epidemiological characteristics of patients with hydatid cyst in surgical cases from 2001 to 2019 in Qom hospitals.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Qom province, the center of Iran, from 2001 to 2019. The study population included all cases with hydatid cyst who operated in governmental and private hospitals. The participants’ characteristics such as age, gender, occupation, place of residence, organ involved, clinical signs and, diagnosis and treatment methods were collected using a questionnaire. The statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS (version 23) software package.

The results revealed that 53.21% and 46.79% of patients were females and males, respectively. Most cases were uban residents (57.69%), and 62.18% of them were housewives. Liver involvement was the most common localization of hydatid cysts reported in 73.7% of patients. The main diagnostic procedures were computed tomography scanning and indirect hemagglutination (IHA). Abdominal pain was reported in 62.2% of cases, and the most common treatment method for the disease was surgical (84.6%). Further, recurrence occurred in 13.47% of patients.

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, the public awareness level should be increased. In addition, educational programs must be conducted by the Ministry of Health to identify whether the control measures are needed in the high risk population.