title: Ultrasonographic diagnosis and medical treatment of human cystic echinococcosis in asymptomatic school age carriers: 5 years of follow-up.
abstract: Hydatidosis or cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by Echinococcus granulosus is endemic in the Province of Río Negro, Argentina. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the results of a program carried out in endemic areas of the Province of Río Negro, Argentina, in the years 1997-2002. Abdominal ultrasonography was used, classifying the cases detected according to WHO guidelines. A treatment algorithm was defined which included observation, albendazol therapy, PAIR or surgery, according to cyst type and size. A total of 5745 schoolchildren were evaluated, detecting hydatid cyst carriers in 70 (1.2%). Of these; 40 (57.1%) were included in follow-up protocol, 25 (35.7%) in treatment protocol with albendazol, 2 (2.9%) with PAIR and 3 (4.3%) with conventional surgery. After a mean of 44 months, among 25 cases treated with albendazol, in 2 (8%) cysts underwent total involution, in 17 (68%) they presented positive changes, in one (4%) they remained unchanged and in 4 (16%) they progressed to type II, while 1 (4%) displayed negative evolutionary changes. Out of 39 cases under observation alone protocol, in 8 cases (21%) cysts underwent total involution, in 7 (18%) they presented positive changes, in 11 (28%) they remained unchanged, in 2 (5%) they progressed to Type II and in 11 (28%) they presented negative evolutionary changes and had to be included in the other protocol types. In this study, conventional surgery, was applied to 10% of detected cases. The combination of ultrasonographic screening and albendazol treatment showed promising results.
authors.affiliation: Dirección de Salud Ambiental, Secretaria de Estado de Salud, Provincia de Río Negro, Viedma Rio Negro 8500, Argentina. elarrieu@salud.rionegro.gov.ar
authors.forename: Edmundo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larrieu
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Carpio
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Salvitti
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mercapide
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sustersic
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Panomarenko
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bigatti
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Labanchi
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cantoni
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Odriozola
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000293:Adolescent; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002648:Child; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole