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Hydatid disease: A global health problem still to be solved *
Author(s) -
GEMMELL M. A.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1988.tb00792.x
Subject(s) - medicine , echinococcus granulosus , echinococcus multilocularis , disease , echinococcosis , intensive care medicine , surgery , pathology , zoology , biology
An assessment has been made of the significance to human health of cystic (CHD) and alveolar (AHD) hydatid disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis. In the case of CHD, it is concluded that: morbidity is usually grossly underestimated; infection can usually be treated successfully by surgery, but not yet by drug therapy; and control in animals is generally feasible, but justification for its implementation requires an effective assessment of ill health in humans. For AHD it is concluded that: despite surgical intervention the infection is almost invariably fatal in the short rather than the long term, but drug treatment should improve the quality and duration of life; and methods and feasibility of control in animals have yet to be researched.