BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuEchinococcosisHydatidosis; Hydatid disease, Hydatid cyst disease; Alveolar cyst disease; Polycystic echinococcosisEchinococcosis is an infection caused by either the Echinococcus granulosus or Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm. The infection is also called hydatid disease. Causes Humans become infected when they swallow the tapeworm eggs in contaminated food. The eggs then form cysts inside the body. A cyst is a closed pocket or pouch. The cysts keep growing, which leads to symptoms.E granulosus is an infection caused by tapeworms found in dogs and livestock such as sheep, pigs, goats, and cattle. These tapeworms are around 2 to 7 mm long. The infection is called cystic echinococcosis (CE). It leads to growth of cysts mainly in the lungs and liver. Cysts can also be found in the heart, bones, and brain.E multilocularis is the infection caused by tapeworms found in dogs, cats, rodents, and foxes. These tapeworms are around 1 to 4 mm long. The infection is called alveolar echinococcosis (AE). It is a life-threatening condition because tumor-like growths form in the liver. Other organs, such as the lungs and brain can be affected.Children or young adults are more prone to get the infection.Echinococcosis is common in:Africa Central Asia Southern South America The Mediterranean The Middle EastIn rare cases, the infection is seen in the United States. It has been reported in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.Risk factors include being exposed to:Cattle Deer Feces of dogs, foxes, wolves, or coyotes Pigs Sheep Camels Symptoms Cysts may produce no symptoms for 10 years or more.As the disease advances and the cysts get larger, symptoms may include:Pain in the upper right part of the abdomen (liver cyst) Increase in size of the abdomen due to swelling (liver cyst) Bloody sputum (lung cyst) Bloody sputumCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract). Hemoptysis is the medical term for cough...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest pain (lung cyst) Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cough (lung cyst) CoughCoughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder. Some coughs are d...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) when cysts break openAnaphylaxisAnaphylaxis is a life-threatening type of allergic reaction.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about the symptoms.Physical examDuring a physical examination, a health care provider checks your body to determine if you do or do not have a physical problem. A physical examinati...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If the provider suspects CE or AE, tests that may be done to find the cysts include:X-ray, echocardiogram, CT scan, PET scan, or ultrasound to view the cysts EchocardiogramAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PET scanA positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests, such as enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), liver function tests ELISAELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunoassay. It is a commonly used laboratory test to detect antibodies in the blood. An antibody is a protein produ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fine needle aspiration biopsyFine needle aspiration biopsyA lymph node biopsy is the removal of lymph node tissue for examination under a microscope. The lymph nodes are small glands that make white blood ce...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Most often, echinococcosis cysts do not cause symptoms and are found when an imaging test is done for another reason. Treatment Many people can be treated with anti-worm medicines.A procedure that involves inserting a needle through the skin into the cyst may be tried. The contents of the cyst is removed (aspirated) through the needle. Then medicine is sent through the needle to kill the tapeworm. This treatment is not for cysts in the lungs.AspiratedAspiration means to draw in or out using a sucking motion. It has two meanings:Breathing in a foreign object (for example, sucking food into the air...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Surgery is the treatment of choice for cysts that are large, infected, or located in organs such as the heart and brain. Outlook (Prognosis) If the cysts respond to oral medicines, the likely outcome is good. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of this disorder. Prevention Measures to prevent CE and AE include:Staying away from wild animals including foxes, wolves, and coyotes Avoiding contact with stray dogs Washing hands well after touching pet dogs or cats, and before handling foodOpen ReferencesReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention website. Echinococcosis. About echinococcosis. www.cdc.gov/echinococcosis/about/. Updated May 11, 2024. Accessed June 18, 2024.Gottstein B, Beldi G. Echinococcosis. In: Cohen J, Powderly WG, Opal SM, eds. Infectious Diseases. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 120.AllVideoImagesTogLiver echinococcus - CT scan - illustration This upper abdominal CT scan shows multiple cysts in the liver, caused by dog tapeworm (echinococcus). Note the large circular cyst (seen on the left side of the screen) and multiple smaller cysts throughout the liver.Liver echinococcus - CT scanillustrationAntibodies - illustration Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens. AntibodiesillustrationLiver echinococcus - CT scan - illustration This upper abdominal CT scan shows multiple cysts in the liver, caused by dog tapeworm (echinococcus). Note the large circular cyst (seen on the left side of the screen) and multiple smaller cysts throughout the liver.Liver echinococcus - CT scanillustrationAntibodies - illustration Antigens are large molecules (usually proteins) on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, bacteria, and some non-living substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles. The immune system recognizes antigens and produces antibodies that destroy substances containing antigens. AntibodiesillustrationRelated Information Cyst(Symptoms)Physical examination(Special Topic) Review Date: 7/28/2022 Reviewed By: Charles I. Schwartz MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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EchinococcosisHydatidosis; Hydatid disease, Hydatid cyst disease; Alveolar cyst disease; Polycystic echinococcosisEchinococcosis is an infection caused by either the Echinococcus granulosus or Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm. The infection is also called hydatid disease. Causes Humans become infected when they swallow the tapeworm eggs in contaminated food. The eggs then form cysts inside the body. A cyst is a closed pocket or pouch. The cysts keep growing, which leads to symptoms.E granulosus is an infection caused by tapeworms found in dogs and livestock such as sheep, pigs, goats, and cattle. These tapeworms are around 2 to 7 mm long. The infection is called cystic echinococcosis (CE). It leads to growth of cysts mainly in the lungs and liver. Cysts can also be found in the heart, bones, and brain.E multilocularis is the infection caused by tapeworms found in dogs, cats, rodents, and foxes. These tapeworms are around 1 to 4 mm long. The infection is called alveolar echinococcosis (AE). It is a life-threatening condition because tumor-like growths form in the liver. Other organs, such as the lungs and brain can be affected.Children or young adults are more prone to get the infection.Echinococcosis is common in:Africa Central Asia Southern South America The Mediterranean The Middle EastIn rare cases, the infection is seen in the United States. It has been reported in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.Risk factors include being exposed to:Cattle Deer Feces of dogs, foxes, wolves, or coyotes Pigs Sheep Camels Symptoms Cysts may produce no symptoms for 10 years or more.As the disease advances and the cysts get larger, symptoms may include:Pain in the upper right part of the abdomen (liver cyst) Increase in size of the abdomen due to swelling (liver cyst) Bloody sputum (lung cyst) Bloody sputumCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract). Hemoptysis is the medical term for cough...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest pain (lung cyst) Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cough (lung cyst) CoughCoughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder. Some coughs are d...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) when cysts break openAnaphylaxisAnaphylaxis is a life-threatening type of allergic reaction.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask about the symptoms.Physical examDuring a physical examination, a health care provider checks your body to determine if you do or do not have a physical problem. A physical examinati...Read Article Now Book Mark Article If the provider suspects CE or AE, tests that may be done to find the cysts include:X-ray, echocardiogram, CT scan, PET scan, or ultrasound to view the cysts EchocardiogramAn electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PET scanA positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests, such as enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), liver function tests ELISAELISA stands for enzyme-linked immunoassay. It is a commonly used laboratory test to detect antibodies in the blood. An antibody is a protein produ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Liver function testsLiver function tests are common tests that are used to see how well the liver is working. Tests include:AlbuminAlpha-1 antitrypsinAlkaline phosphata...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fine needle aspiration biopsyFine needle aspiration biopsyA lymph node biopsy is the removal of lymph node tissue for examination under a microscope. The lymph nodes are small glands that make white blood ce...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Most often, echinococcosis cysts do not cause symptoms and are found when an imaging test is done for another reason. Treatment Many people can be treated with anti-worm medicines.A procedure that involves inserting a needle through the skin into the cyst may be tried. The contents of the cyst is removed (aspirated) through the needle. Then medicine is sent through the needle to kill the tapeworm. This treatment is not for cysts in the lungs.AspiratedAspiration means to draw in or out using a sucking motion. It has two meanings:Breathing in a foreign object (for example, sucking food into the air...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Surgery is the treatment of choice for cysts that are large, infected, or located in organs such as the heart and brain. Outlook (Prognosis) If the cysts respond to oral medicines, the likely outcome is good. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of this disorder. Prevention Measures to prevent CE and AE include:Staying away from wild animals including foxes, wolves, and coyotes Avoiding contact with stray dogs Washing hands well after touching pet dogs or cats, and before handling foodOpen ReferencesReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention website. Echinococcosis. About echinococcosis. www.cdc.gov/echinococcosis/about/. Updated May 11, 2024. Accessed June 18, 2024.Gottstein B, Beldi G. Echinococcosis. In: Cohen J, Powderly WG, Opal SM, eds. Infectious Diseases. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 120.