Multi‐organ/disseminated echinococcosis in children: Case series and review of the literature

Aim Echinococcosis with multi‐organ/disseminated involvement is rare in childhood. We aimed to evaluate the clinical and laboratory characteristics and prognosis in paediatric patients with echinococcosis having multiorgan/disseminated involvement. Method We evaluated retrospectively children with echinococcosis with involvement of three or more organs. Results Thirteen patients were included in the study. The median age was 120 (range 71–189) months. Three (23%) were diagnosed incidentally. Abdominal pain was seen in 5 (38.4%) patients, vomiting in 4 (30.7%), headache in 3 (23%), cough in 2 (15.3%), groin pain in 1 (7.6%), 1 (7.6%) had jaundice and 1 (7.6%) had fever. The median duration of complaints was 48 (0–140) days. The most common tripartite organ was 38.4% (5/13) liver, lung and spleen. Isolated abdominal dissemination was detected in two patients. Two patients had multi‐organ involvement and multiple cysts with dissemination. Cyst rupture was observed in three of the patients; recurrent urinary tract infection, hydroureteronephrosis, secondary peritonitis with intra‐abdominal abscess, and biliary tract fistula were each observed in one patient. Relapse developed in 3 (23%) patients. Conclusion Echinococcosis is a very slow growing and complex parasitic disease that affects many organs and tissues. In our study, eosinophilia, recurrence, and complications were seen at a higher rate in paediatric patients with multiorgan involvement, who required repetitive surgeries and long‐term medical treatment. However, there are scanty data on risk factors, optimum treatment and prognosis.