Executive Summary of the Consensus Statement of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), the Spanish Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health (SEMTSI), the Spanish Association of Surgeons (AEC), the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), the Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgery (SECT), the Spanish Society of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (SERVEI), and the Spanish Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases (SEIP), on the Management

Cystic echinococcosis in a Moroccan boy: a silent and neglected disease among refugee and migrant children

“…It is highly prevalent in underdeveloped areas, being responsible for important economic losses in agricultural sectors and elevated resource consumption in public health systems 9. Nevertheless, it has attracted limited investment in research10 and is considered a NTD by the WHO 2. CE has been described by some authors as a re-emerging disease due to the weakness of current control programmes 11.…”

“…Microscopic and histologic studies of the cyst fluid may reveal the presence of protoscoleces,12 whereas routine laboratory analyses are non-specific. Conventional and rapid diagnostic tests have a low sensitivity for inactive cysts,10 while IHA and ELISA have demonstrated a sensitivity of 80% overall (90% for hepatic echinococcosis, 40% for pulmonary echinococcosis) 19. These methods are increasingly being replaced by the use of recombinant antigen and purified antigen techniques, which are highly specific but can show cross-reactivity with cysticercosis and alveolar echinococcosis 10.…”

“…Conventional and rapid diagnostic tests have a low sensitivity for inactive cysts,10 while IHA and ELISA have demonstrated a sensitivity of 80% overall (90% for hepatic echinococcosis, 40% for pulmonary echinococcosis) 19. These methods are increasingly being replaced by the use of recombinant antigen and purified antigen techniques, which are highly specific but can show cross-reactivity with cysticercosis and alveolar echinococcosis 10. Molecular techniques may be highly useful in the future but have yet to be optimised 10.…”

“…These methods are increasingly being replaced by the use of recombinant antigen and purified antigen techniques, which are highly specific but can show cross-reactivity with cysticercosis and alveolar echinococcosis 10. Molecular techniques may be highly useful in the future but have yet to be optimised 10. Imaging studies play a crucial role in the diagnosis, classification (uncomplicated vs complicated) and follow-up of CE,8 and most uncomplicated pulmonary hydatid cysts are an incidental radiographic finding.…”

“…The management of CE depends on the characteristics of the patient, the features of the cyst and the availability of healthcare resources 10. Surgery is the current treatment of choice, while an alternative approach can be adopted in selected cases, such as the PAIR (puncture, aspiration, injection and reaspiration) technique 10.…”