Echinococcus is an infection caused by the Echinococcus granulosus or Echinococcus multilocularis worm.
Echinococcus is common in:
In the United States, the disease is very rare. However, it has been reported in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.
Humans become infected when they swallow eggs in contaminated food. The infection is carried to the liver, where cysts form. Cysts can also form in the:
Risk factors include being exposed to:
A liver cyst may produce no symptoms for 10 - 20 years until it is large enough to be felt by physical examination.
Symptoms include:
A physical examination may show signs of:
The following tests may be done to find the cysts:
Most often, echinococcosis is found when an imaging test is done for another reason.
Many patients can be treated with albendazole or mebendazole. These medications are often used for up to 3 months. Another drug, praziquantel, may be helpful combined with albendazole or mebendazole.
The cysts may be removed with surgery, if possible. This can be a complicated surgery.
If the cysts respond to oral medication, the likely outcome is good.
The cysts may break open (rupture) and cause severe illness, including:
The cysts may also spread throughout the body.
Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of this disorder.
In areas where the disease is known to occur, health education and routinely removing tapeworms from dogs can help prevent the disease.
Hydatidosis; Hydatid disease, Hydatid cyst disease
King CH, Fairley JK. Cestodes (Tapeworms).In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap 29.
Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
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