Diagnosis of Human Cases of Echinococcosis in Iraq (2021-2023): An Analysis of Gender, Age, and Affected Organs

Background: Cystic echinococcosis is a chronic zoonotic disease in humans caused by infection with canine tapeworm larvae. The species of echinococcus has a two-host life cycle. Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is classified as an emergent condition since cysts can develop to a size of 5 to 10 cm during the first year of infection and continue to grow for years or even decades before the illness is spotted affecting several organs.Methods: 52 patients who were admitted to Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital, Fallujah Teaching Hospital, and other nearby private hospitals between 2021/7/8 and 2023/8/21 are the subject of this article. Cysts from various organs in patients of both sexes and of varied ages were removed, some of which included the cysts of echinococcosis infected persons.Results: According to our research, the liver was the organ that had hydatid cyst infections most commonly, with a damage frequency of 46.2%. According to the statistics, the prevalence of infection in the other organs, which were listed after the liver, was 25.0% (spleen, bone, and bile duct) and 23.1% cases were of lung infection. It was found that the likelihood of liver and lung injuries happening concurrently was the lowest (5.8%) of all the infections.Conclusion: The study shows hydatid disease primarily affects the liver and lungs, with females and the 20–40 age group being the most impacted. Infection rates increased from 2021 to 2023. Surgery remains the main treatment, though medical therapies have varied success, especially for lung cases. Gender, age, and cyst location significantly influence disease outcomes.