title: Abdominal Cystic Echinococcosis Treated with Albendazole. A Pediatric Cohort Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cystic echinococcosis is endemic in Argentina. The standard pharmacological treatment for the disease is albendazole, but surgery is a common alternative. Even though primary infection occurs mainly in the pediatric population, the optimal therapeutic option in pediatrics is not clearly defined and few pediatric cohorts with cystic echinococcosis treated with albendazole have been described to date.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe therapeutic response to albendazole in a cohort of pediatric patients with abdominal cystic echinococcosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (0-18 years old) with abdominal cystic echinococcosis who were treated with albendazole between January 1998 and August 2013. Diagnosis of abdominal cystic echinococcosis was made by ultrasound. All patients received albendazole, 10-15 mg/kg/day. Epidemiological data, symptoms, number, location and outcome of the cysts, serology and treatment received were analyzed. The parameter used to assess treatment response was cyst changes evaluated by ultrasound follow up using the WHO-IWGE classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 28 patients (with 46 abdominal cysts) were included in the cohort. Mean age at enrolment was 9.4 years and mean duration of follow-up, 23.8 months. All patients resided in rural areas and had had contact with dogs. The asymptomatic form of the disease was the most common presentation. All patients received albendazole (mean duration: 142.5 days), with low incidence of adverse events. Albendazole had a positive effect on most of the cysts. Surgery was performed in 13 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with albendazole for uncomplicated cystic echinococcosis cysts is safe and effective, and can potentially reduce the need for surgical intervention.
authors: Parasitology and Chagas Service, Buenos Aires Children Hospital Ricardo Gutiérrez, Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Samanta
authors: S
authors: Moroni
authors: Parasitology and Chagas Service, Buenos Aires Children Hospital Ricardo Gutiérrez, Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Guillermo
authors: G
authors: Moscatelli
authors: Parasitology and Chagas Service, Buenos Aires Children Hospital Ricardo Gutiérrez, Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Facundo García
authors: FG
authors: Bournissen
authors: Parasitology and Chagas Service, Buenos Aires Children Hospital Ricardo Gutiérrez, Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Nicolás
authors: N
authors: González
authors: Parasitology and Chagas Service, Buenos Aires Children Hospital Ricardo Gutiérrez, Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Griselda
authors: G
authors: Ballering
authors: Parasitology and Chagas Service, Buenos Aires Children Hospital Ricardo Gutiérrez, Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Héctor
authors: H
authors: Freilij
authors: Department of Surgery, Buenos Aires Children Hospital Ricardo Gutiérrez, Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Fabián
authors: F
authors: Salgueiro
authors: Parasitology and Chagas Service, Buenos Aires Children Hospital Ricardo Gutiérrez, Capital Federal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors: Jaime
authors: J
authors: Altcheh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001118:Argentina; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019233:Retreatment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole