A Comprehensive Analysis of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> Infections in Children and Adolescents: Results of a 7-Year Retrospective Study and Literature Review
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected tropical parasitic disease linked with significant social and economic burdens worldwide. The scientific community has minimal information on echinococcosis in Romanian people, and hospital medical records are the only sources that may be used to investigate...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Cristina Maria Mihai Ancuta Lupu Tatiana Chisnoiu Adriana Luminita Balasa Ginel Baciu Vasile Valeriu Lupu Violeta Popovici Felicia Suciu Florin-Daniel Enache Simona Claudia Cambrea Ramona Mihaela Stoicescu |
| author_facet | Cristina Maria Mihai Ancuta Lupu Tatiana Chisnoiu Adriana Luminita Balasa Ginel Baciu Vasile Valeriu Lupu Violeta Popovici Felicia Suciu Florin-Daniel Enache Simona Claudia Cambrea Ramona Mihaela Stoicescu |
| author_sort | Cristina Maria Mihai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected tropical parasitic disease linked with significant social and economic burdens worldwide. The scientific community has minimal information on echinococcosis in Romanian people, and hospital medical records are the only sources that may be used to investigate its status. A 7-year retrospective clinical study on pediatric patients with CE from Southeast Romania was performed, and 39 children and adolescents were included, aged 2–15 years old. They were hospitalized with cystic echinococcosis in the Pediatric Department and Pediatric Surgery Department of Constanta County Clinical Emergency Hospital “St. Apostle Andrew” between 1 January 2017 and 1 October 2024. Twenty-nine (74.36%) pediatric patients came from rural zones, and 10 (25.64%) had urban residences. In total, 28 children (71.79%) had contact with four different animals (dogs, goats, pigs, and sheep); only four were from urban zones, and they had contact only with dogs. Data regarding the length of hospital stay, cyst location, and complications were collected and analyzed. According to the medical files, the diagnosis was established using imaging techniques and serological tests for CE. IgE and IgG reported appreciable variations in correlation with all parameters, and significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05) were recorded. IgE levels considerably increased in cases of no animal contact, pulmonary involvement, complications, surgical treatment, and multiple hospitalizations. Moderate IgE values were recorded in cases of urban residences, pig and sheep contact, and hepatic involvement. The IgG concentration considerably increased with sheep contact and moderately increased in cases of rural zones, hepatic involvement, complications, and surgical treatment. The results show that incidental discovery, symptoms, complications, multiple dissemination, pulmonary involvement, and dog and pig contact increase the hospitalization time. Extensive data analysis supports our results. Our findings highlight the complexity of managing <i>E. granulosus</i> infections in children and evidence the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, combining early diagnostic tools, tailored medical therapy, and careful surgical intervention when necessary. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b35a90318d5942f8898289f6ca745f86 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-b35a90318d5942f8898289f6ca745f862025-01-24T13:44:44ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-01-011415310.3390/pathogens14010053A Comprehensive Analysis of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> Infections in Children and Adolescents: Results of a 7-Year Retrospective Study and Literature ReviewCristina Maria Mihai0Ancuta Lupu1Tatiana Chisnoiu2Adriana Luminita Balasa3Ginel Baciu4Vasile Valeriu Lupu5Violeta Popovici6Felicia Suciu7Florin-Daniel Enache8Simona Claudia Cambrea9Ramona Mihaela Stoicescu10Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of General Medicine, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatrics, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of General Medicine, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of General Medicine, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, “Dunărea de Jos” University of Galati, 800008 Galati, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatrics, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaCenter for Mountain Economics, “Costin C. Kritescu” National Institute of Economic Research (INCE-CEMONT), Romanian Academy, 725700 Vatra-Dornei, RomaniaDepartment of Analysis and Quality Control of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, Str. Căpitan Aviator Al. Șerbănescu, nr.6, Campus Corp C, 900470 Constanta, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatric Surgery and Orthopedics, Faculty of General Medicine, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, RomaniaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of General Medicine, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, 900470 Constanta, RomaniaDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Ovidius” University of Constanta, Str. Căpitan Aviator Al. Șerbănescu, nr.6, Campus Corp C, 900470 Constanta, RomaniaCystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected tropical parasitic disease linked with significant social and economic burdens worldwide. The scientific community has minimal information on echinococcosis in Romanian people, and hospital medical records are the only sources that may be used to investigate its status. A 7-year retrospective clinical study on pediatric patients with CE from Southeast Romania was performed, and 39 children and adolescents were included, aged 2–15 years old. They were hospitalized with cystic echinococcosis in the Pediatric Department and Pediatric Surgery Department of Constanta County Clinical Emergency Hospital “St. Apostle Andrew” between 1 January 2017 and 1 October 2024. Twenty-nine (74.36%) pediatric patients came from rural zones, and 10 (25.64%) had urban residences. In total, 28 children (71.79%) had contact with four different animals (dogs, goats, pigs, and sheep); only four were from urban zones, and they had contact only with dogs. Data regarding the length of hospital stay, cyst location, and complications were collected and analyzed. According to the medical files, the diagnosis was established using imaging techniques and serological tests for CE. IgE and IgG reported appreciable variations in correlation with all parameters, and significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05) were recorded. IgE levels considerably increased in cases of no animal contact, pulmonary involvement, complications, surgical treatment, and multiple hospitalizations. Moderate IgE values were recorded in cases of urban residences, pig and sheep contact, and hepatic involvement. The IgG concentration considerably increased with sheep contact and moderately increased in cases of rural zones, hepatic involvement, complications, and surgical treatment. The results show that incidental discovery, symptoms, complications, multiple dissemination, pulmonary involvement, and dog and pig contact increase the hospitalization time. Extensive data analysis supports our results. Our findings highlight the complexity of managing <i>E. granulosus</i> infections in children and evidence the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, combining early diagnostic tools, tailored medical therapy, and careful surgical intervention when necessary.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/53<i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i>hydatid cystRomanian pediatric patientsliver and lung involvementmedical and surgical treatmentIgG |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Maria Mihai Ancuta Lupu Tatiana Chisnoiu Adriana Luminita Balasa Ginel Baciu Vasile Valeriu Lupu Violeta Popovici Felicia Suciu Florin-Daniel Enache Simona Claudia Cambrea Ramona Mihaela Stoicescu A Comprehensive Analysis of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> Infections in Children and Adolescents: Results of a 7-Year Retrospective Study and Literature Review Pathogens <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> hydatid cyst Romanian pediatric patients liver and lung involvement medical and surgical treatment IgG |
| title | A Comprehensive Analysis of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> Infections in Children and Adolescents: Results of a 7-Year Retrospective Study and Literature Review |
| title_full | A Comprehensive Analysis of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> Infections in Children and Adolescents: Results of a 7-Year Retrospective Study and Literature Review |
| title_fullStr | A Comprehensive Analysis of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> Infections in Children and Adolescents: Results of a 7-Year Retrospective Study and Literature Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Comprehensive Analysis of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> Infections in Children and Adolescents: Results of a 7-Year Retrospective Study and Literature Review |
| title_short | A Comprehensive Analysis of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> Infections in Children and Adolescents: Results of a 7-Year Retrospective Study and Literature Review |
| title_sort | comprehensive analysis of i echinococcus granulosus i infections in children and adolescents results of a 7 year retrospective study and literature review |
| topic | <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> hydatid cyst Romanian pediatric patients liver and lung involvement medical and surgical treatment IgG |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/53 |
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