TRIP

Echinococcosis

Family Doctor (USA), 2004

What is echinococcosis? Echinococcosis (Say this: "eh-kinno-cock-ko-sus"), also called hydatid disease, is an infection caused by eating food or water that is contaminated with the eggs of the Echinococcus worm.
This worm is a microscopic tapeworm that is often found in dogs and common livestock, especially sheep.
Who gets echinococcosis, and how? The disease is found all over the world where humans are in close contact with dogs and livestock.
Humans can get echinococcosis by eating food or drinking water contaminated with feces from infected dogs.
Because echinococcosis is rare and hard to find inside the body, your doctor may have to order a blood test.
Sometimes a thin needle is used to puncture the cyst and take out fluid to test for the Echinococcus infection.
What are the symptoms of echinococcosis? Echinococcosis may not produce any symptoms for 10 or 20 years because the cysts grow slowly.
A person with echinococcosis might have pain in the stomach, weakness or weight loss because of the cysts.
How is echinococcosis treated? Treatment for this disease is based on where the cysts are found and what problems they are causing.
How can I keep from getting echinococcosis? If you live in an area where livestock are raised and you have contact with dogs, you should be careful.
To find out if this article applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your family doctor.