Investigating Pulmonary Hydatidosis: A Narrative Review
Year: 2024
Type: review
Abstract: Context: Pulmonary hydatidosis (PH) is a zoonotic illness caused by infection with the Echinococcus tapeworm species. About 20% of the infected individuals have lung involvement in this disease, which is epidemiologically secondary to liver disease. Evidence Acquisition: A comprehensive literature search was performed via the Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. Search terms were "pulmonary hydatidosis," "lung hydatidosis," "Pulmonary echinococcosis," "lung echinococcosis," "Pulmonary hydatid cyst," and "Lung hydatid cyst." The search period of 1980 to 2022 was chosen to compare research from different eras. Results: Echinococcal cysts most frequently develop in the liver and then in the lungs. After a cyst ruptures, the symptoms of lung infestation can cause a quick onset of hemoptysis, fever, coughing, and chest discomfort. Serology is added to radiology to support the diagnosis. The primary investigation for a pulmonary hydatid cyst is a chest x-ray and computed tomography. Surgery or medical treatment may be used to treat PH. The most favored form of treatment is surgical intervention, while medications might be helpful in certain individuals, with benzimidazoles, such as albendazole, as the most common drugs administered orally as part of pharmacotherapy. Conclusion: Given the significant negative effects of PH on individuals, prevention should be emphasized, especially in endemic regions.
DOI: 10.34172/hmj.8203
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4403159474