Abstract

TAMAYO MENESES, Luis; PACHECO LLERENA, Rodolfo; FERNANDEZ HINOJOSA, Ruth  and  CHUNGARA MONTANO, Jorge. Hydatid cyst. Hospital experience. Rev. bol. ped. [online]. 2004, vol.43, n.3, pp.149-154. ISSN 1024-0675.

Research design: retrospective analysis. Objective: To describe the characteristics of hydatid cyst in hospitalizad patients. Place: Hospital del Niño "Dr Ovidio Aliaga Uria", La Paz. Time period: January 1984 to February 1999. Materials and method: All cases that were diagnosed upon release with hydatosis or hydatid cyst. In order to be able to include all cases, aside from the release book, we used the pathologic anatomy book. During the chosen period of time we studied 40 cases of hydatid cyst in 31 children, whose medical histories were thoroughly checked, emphasizing all clinical aspects, location of the cysts, and type of treatment, evolution and re-admission for the same reason. Results: Of 31 children, 9 were admitted twice for the same reason, some with the cyst located in the same place as in their first admission, others with a different location. There was no major difference in the incidence related to sex (22 boys and 18 girls), aged between 3 to 14 years (mostly from 5 to 10). Most came from urban low-middle class neighborhoods in La Paz and El Alto. The most frequent location of the cyst was the lungs (25 cases), followed by liver (10 cases); there were 8 cases with cysts in both organs, the rest had different locations and often unusual such as the parotid gland and spleen Surgical treatment applied in all cases and from 1996 onwards systematic use of Albendazol both before and after surgery was established, once diagnosis had been confirmed. Conclusions: This study shows an increasing frequency of this pathology, it confirms a high morbidity, high cost due to mandatory surgery, long hospital stays, complications due to the same disease, related infections and a high mortality rate. This amply justifies an objective revision and up-dating of the subject, bearing in mind new surgical procedures and anti-parasite medication emphasizing prevention.

Keywords : teniasis; hidatic cyst; equinococcosis.