Investigating Characteristics of Hydatid Cyst Patients Referred to Health Centers in Kerman City, Iran

 Hydatid cysts are one of the most critical parasitic infections common to humans and animals and affect the health of communities. This study investigates the frequency distribution of hydatid cysts based on clinical and individual characteristics of patients referred to health centers in Kerman City, Iran, from 2011 to 2020.

 In this cross-sectional study, information was obtained from the medical records of 115 patients with hydatid cysts who were referred to hospitals and health centers during the years 2011-2020. Public and private clinics in Kerman City, Iran, were selected, and information on demography, and clinical and diagnostic approaches of patients were collected. Data analysis was performed using the SPSS software, version 22.

 A total of 115 with a mean age of 20.31±0.89 years were included in the study. The highest number of patients was identified in 2013. More than half of the patients (53%) were female and the rest were male (47%). The age group of 20 to 40 years showed the highest rate of involvement (45.2%) while the age group of 60 to 80 years showed the lowest rate of involvement (1.3%). The majority of patients (76.5%) lived in the city and more than a quarter of patients had a history of contact with dogs (26.1%). Nausea (91.3%), chest pain and cough (46.1%), abdominal pain, and an enlarged liver (29.6%), were the most common clinical symptoms, and lungs (56.5%) and liver (31.3%) were the most involved organs in individuals. The disease was diagnosed by radiology and surgery in less than half of the patients (46.9%). Most patients (80%) received surgical and drug treatment together and the duration of treatment in less than half of them (45.2%) was two months.

 The occurrence of hydatid cysts in Kerman City, Iran, especially in young people, is significant and the mean age of patients in Kerman City, similar to studies in some parts of the country, is very low, emphasizing the crucialness of being attentive to the disease and highlights the need for further research. Also, educating and informing families about the disease and its means of transmission along with controlling stray dogs can be beneficial in breaking the transmission chain.