Epidemiological characteristics of human cystic echinococcosis in Khuzestan province (Iran), 2011–2021: a retrospective analytical study

Hydatid cyst (HC) disease is endemic in many Mediterranean countries. The most polluted areas of Iran include the Alborz and Zagros Mountain ranges, where animal husbandry is common. This study investigated the epidemiological dimensions of HC in patients admitted to hospitals in Khuzestan province from 2011 to 2021. Of all 183 patients identified, 113 (61.7%) were female with the mean age of 37.7 ± 17, men with the mean age of 36.7 ± 19. Also, we found that housewives made up 49.2% of our HC patients. 65% of the patients in this study lived in urban areas, and 42% had a history of contact with dogs. The liver was reported to be the most HC-affected organ. The most clinical symptoms were abdominal pain and hepatomegaly. 59% of the patients had only one cyst. This study found that surgery and radiology were the most common treatment and diagnostic methods. There were significant relationships between: gender and occupation (p < 0.001); location with dog contact, duration of dog contact (p < 0.001); ways of washing raw vegetables (p < 0.01), and type of treatment (p < 0.05); occupation and dog contact (p < 0.001); with the involvement of the liver being greater in patients who used only water to wash vegetables (p < 0.01). The key to successful disease management is early diagnosis. How to intervene and treat HC necessitates the identification of the stages of the cyst, which is dependent on imaging techniques. The prevalence of human hydatidosis has been overlooked as the most important disease that health policymakers should consider. Furthermore, training programs are required to better understand the disease's symptoms and identify sources of infection.