Human Cystic Echinococcosis in Lorestan province, Southwest Iran: A retrospective epidemiological study of surgical cases during a 10 years period (2005-2014)

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hydatidosis in Lorestan province during a 10 year period (2005-2014). We surveyed medical records of infected patients with hydatid cyst who had been operated in referral hospitals of Lorestan province, Iran. Several parameters were analyzed including age, gender, place of residency, hospitalization time, and the location of cysts. Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) affected more males 114 (52.52%) than females 84 (47.47%). The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 76 years, and the age group 20– 30 years (27%) was the most affected. Cysts were localized in liver and lung in 62.63% and 37.37% of cases respectively and unusual cyst locations in kidneys, brain, pelvic area, spleen and spine was not observed. The average hospitalization time was 7 days. The distribution of residence in patients showed 124 (62.63%) of them to have urban origin and 74 (37.37%) were rural residents. Significant relationships were found between gender and cyst location, and place of residency and cyst location (p< 0.05). Single organ involvement was found in 80% of the patients, and was more common in males (51.25%) than in females (48.75%). Farmers had the highest rate of infection (19.19%) followed by students with 18.69%. Because of the growing trend of hydatid cyst operation in Lorestan province, which may be due to many different reasons further studies are needed for evaluation of economic burden and risk factors for CE in this region.