ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Hydatidosis is a parasitic infection that is still an important public health problem in Turkey. In the present study, it was planned to review the diagnostic and treatment options. METHODS: The study was conducted in pediatric pulmonary chest ward of Izmir Chest Diseases and Surgery Training Hospital, a referral tertiary hospital for pulmonary diseases in Western Turkey. Cases were evaluated in clinical presentations, radiological, histopathologic and serological features retrospectively. RESULTS: Consecutive 17 (11 male and 6 female; mean age 11.29 + 2.44) pediatric cases between 1996 and 2001 were evaluated. Liver involvement was found in 8 (47%) cases. Casoni skin test and IHA test were found positive in 7 (63.6%) and 8 (72.7%) out of 11 cases, respectively. Surgical treatment was performed only in 7 (41.1%) cases as well as surgical plus medical treatment was given in 3 (17.6%) cases. Seven (41.1%) cases were treated just medically. CONCLUSION: Hydatidosis should be considered in the existence of appropriate clinical and radiological findings as a probable diagnosis in all children in our region. Surgery should be the first choice for treatment but, medical therapy was considered as effective for treatment complicated and/or nonsurgical pediatric cases.