Echinococcosis is a tapeworm infection that can be contracted by consuming contaminated food. Symptoms include abdominal discomfort, fever, cough, and skin irritation. Treatment involves drug therapy and surgery if necessary. The infection is common in certain regions and can be caused by different types of tapeworms.
Echinococcosis is a serious tapeworm infection that can affect humans. Exposure to the responsible parasite, an Echinococcus worm, often occurs when a person consumes food contaminated by the worm in its larval stage. The symptoms of echinococcosis are intense and can quickly become life-threatening, so prompt medical treatment is the key to a good prognosis. Depending on the larval stage of the parasite at the time of its consumption, surgery may be required to remove the resulting parasitic cysts.
It is essential that a diagnosis of echinococcosis, also known as hydatid disease, be made in a timely manner due to the risk of complications. The patient’s full medical, personal and occupational histories are recorded as it is entirely possible that exposure could have occurred through means other than food contamination. A blood test is usually done to check for markers suggestive of a bacterial infection that is contributing to your symptoms. Additional imaging tests, including a computed tomography (CT) scan, may also be conducted to check for cysts in the abdominal region.
Symptoms of hydatid disease are often centered in the digestive tract. Individuals develop abdominal discomfort accompanied by fever. Frequently, symptomatic individuals also experience a persistent cough that produces blood-tinged sputum. As the infection progresses, chest discomfort and skin irritation may occur. If symptoms are ignored or treatment delayed, the infection will progress putting the individual at risk of shock and death.
The first approach to treating echinococcosis involves administering drug therapy specifically designed to rid the body of the tapeworm infection. Individuals are given an oral anthelmintic drug, such as mebendazole, to be taken in its entirety over the course of several months. If the individual is diagnosed with several tapeworm-laden cysts, such as can form when multiple eggs remain lodged in the digestive tract, surgery may be performed to remove the growths. As with any surgery, removing the remaining cysts can carry significant risks depending on their location and number.
Echinococcus granulosus and multilocularis species are most commonly responsible for echinococcosis infection. Considered a rare diagnosis in the West, hydatid disease is common throughout areas including Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Exposure to the Echinococcus tapeworm occurs when you eat egg-laden foods, such as beef and eggs. Once the tapeworm enters the digestive system, it usually lodges in the liver, but it can also travel to other parts of the body, including the kidneys and spleen.
There are several types of hydatid disease determined by the type of tapeworm consumed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alveolar echinococcosis (AE), also known as alveolococcosis, is associated with tapeworm multilocularis, which is found in wild animals. The transmission of the infection can occur through a puncture in the skin, as can occur with a bite, or direct contact with contaminated feces. The second form of echinococcosis, known as cystic echinococcosis, is related to exposure to tapeworm species granulosus. The CDC suggests that the granule worm is most common in pets and those in the food chain, such as pigs and cattle.
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