« Back to Farmacia Journal 4/2013

THE IMPORTANCE OF DRUG THERAPY IN LUNG MULTIFOCAL HYDATIDOSIS

CLAUDIU NISTOR^1*, ADRIAN CIUCHE¹, DANIEL PANTILE¹, MIHNEA DAVIDESCU², AURELIAN-EMIL RANETTI³

Download Full Article PDF

Echinococcosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused in humans by the larval stage of the Echinococcus granulosus. This zoonosis was first reported in ancient times (Hippocrates, fourth century BC); Rudolphi (1808) first used the term hydatid cyst to describe echinococcosis in humans. Currently, it is considered one of the main parasitoses affecting animals bred for income and one of the most important parasitic zoonoses. It has a wide geographic distribution and human might be infected incidentally as intermediate hosts in the parasite's life cycle. We present the case of a 25 year-old girl referred to our unit with non-productive cough, dull chest pain and fever for the past few weeks. Examination revealed a patient with tachypnea and fever. After several investigations, multiple hydatidosis was identified and the proposed course of treatment was first surgery, followed by medical treatment. The surgical intervention was performed through a left axillary thoracotomy. Cystic hydatid disease, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is still an important public health problem in many parts of the world, including our country. Hydatid cysts can be managed either by operative or non-operative methods. We consider that hydatid cysts with dimensions over 2 cm have to be surgically approached because we noticed the preoperative treatment with albendazole might produce, along with parasite’s death, local infection with possible evolution to pulmonary abscess. In conclusion, our experience suggests that the most effective therapy in treating cystic hydatidosis is the combination of surgery with chemotherapy. Albendazole given as described together with surgery is considered to have the highest success rate in treating cystic hydatidosis.