Alveolar hydatid disease
Alveolar Hydatid Disease (pronounced: al-vee-uh-lar hi-dat-id disease) is a rare but serious parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis.
Etymology
The term "Alveolar" is derived from the Latin word "alveolus" meaning small cavity, referring to the honeycomb-like appearance of the lesions caused by the disease. "Hydatid" comes from the Greek word "hydatid" meaning a small drop of water, referring to the fluid-filled cysts formed by the parasite.
Symptoms
The disease primarily affects the liver, but can spread to other organs such as the lungs and brain. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, weight loss, and jaundice.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of Alveolar Hydatid Disease is typically made through imaging studies such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI, and confirmed by serological tests.
Treatment
Treatment typically involves a combination of surgery and long-term antiparasitic therapy. In some cases, liver transplantation may be necessary.
Epidemiology
Alveolar Hydatid Disease is most common in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in rural areas where dogs and wild canids come into contact with rodents, the intermediate hosts of Echinococcus multilocularis.
Prevention
Prevention strategies include regular deworming of dogs and other canids, and avoiding contact with wild animals.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Alveolar hydatid disease
- Wikipedia's article - Alveolar hydatid disease
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski