Khaberni - A recent scientific study has revealed that hydatid disease still represents a serious health problem among children in Algeria, especially in rural areas.
The study, prepared by researchers from the Laboratory of Applied Microbiology at Farhat Abbas University in Sétif, Algeria, and published in the journal "Acta Tropica," highlights the need for more effective preventive measures to reduce the spread of this parasitic disease, scientifically known as "cystic echinococcosis."
The study, which Al Ain News obtained a copy of, is based on data analysis of 92 cases diagnosed among children and adolescents from 2020 to 2023 in the pediatric surgery department of the Mother and Child Hospital of the university hospital center in Sétif, northeastern Algeria.
The results showed that the infections were more common among children aged three to nine years, with a higher rate among males compared to females. It was also noted that most of the patients came from rural areas, reflecting the disease's association with traditional animal husbandry and exposure to parasites.
The disease is caused by the cestode parasite known as "Echinococcus granulosus," which can be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals or through contaminated food and water. Once it infects humans, the parasite causes the formation of water-filled cysts within the internal organs.
The study clarified that the lungs were the most common site for these cysts in children, surpassing the liver, which is usually the organ most affected in many cases. Microscopic examinations also showed that more than half of the surgically removed cysts were fertile, meaning they had the ability to produce parasites and continue the cycle of infection.
Using molecular analysis techniques like polymerase chain reaction (PCR), researchers were able to identify the parasitic strain responsible for the infection, which was found to belong to the type "Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto," one of the types most associated with human infections.
Researchers confirm that the results of the study indicate that hydatid disease still poses a significant health challenge for children in Algeria, necessitating broader studies to understand the dynamics of parasite transmission to humans, alongside developing long-term preventive programs that include health education and monitoring of animals and the rural environment.
