Hydatid Disease

Hydatid Disease

·        Aetiology: Echinococcus granulosa (a flatworm). Infected from ova excreted in dog faeces. Dogs infected from eating raw sheep offal (ie liver) containing hydatid cysts

·        Clinical: Often acquired in childhood, present in older age with solitary cysts (liver, lung, brain)

·        Treatment: surgical drainage + aldendazole as adjunct

·        Diagnosis: Serology: haemaglutination test + complement fixation test