An Analysis of Hydatid Cyst Surgeries in Patients Referred To Hospitals in Khorram-Abad, Lorestan during 2002-06

Background: echinococcosis or hydatid cyst (hc) is considered as one of the major parasitic infections in iran that causesmany health problems and economic losses in communities. the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hc inpatients referred to surgery wards of three hospitals in khorram-abad, the center of lorestan province in south-west ofiran from 2002 - 2006.methods: totally, 64513 medical records of patients referred to surgery wards of shohadaye ashayer, tohid and taamineejtemaee hospitals in khorram-abad lorestan were studied. these patients had gone under surgical operations for differentreasons. among these medical records, 43.7% belonged to shohadaye ashayer, 8.2% to tohid and 18.1% to taamine ejtemaeehospitals.results: cysts were found in liver and lung in 61.5% and 20.5% of cases, respectively. in addition, cysts were found inbrain, muscle, kidney eye and peritonea in the remaining 18% of cases.conclusion: a very low level of knowledge about hydatid disease was found in the community. the mean age of the patientswas 40.2 years and the highest rate of infection with hc was observed in women. further studies are required to findthe etiologic factors of h.c in khorram-abad lorestan-iran.