Sudden Death Due to Hydatid Disease: A Six‐Year Study in the Northern Part of Tunisia

Abstract

Human ecchinococcosis also known as hydatid disease is a zoonotic infection caused by the tapeworm Ecchinococcus with 2-3 Million cases worldwide. We hereby report a 6 years period study of Sudden death due to hydatidosis aiming to analyze the epidemiological criteria, death circumstances, and autopsy observations attributed to hydatid disease. During the past 6 years, 26 death cases were due to hydatid disease. Our analysis shows that the sex ratio (M/F) was 1.6, the mean age was 31-year old, and 65% of the subjects lived in rural places. In 17 cases, death occurred in the victim's place, five victims died after a heavy exercise, and in two cases, death occurred immediately after trauma. At autopsy, 91% of the cysts were found in the liver. In three cases, death followed a septic state, and in two cases, it followed an acute respiratory failure. Death was attributed to anaphylaxis in 17 cases.

Non-thrombotic Pulmonary Embolism Due to Liver Hydatic Cyst: A Case Report

“…Hydatid cystic rupture was reported to be a potential cause of sudden unexpected deaths, especially in young adults and children (9). Research also reported that hydatid cystic rupture may be spontaneous in young people who have a history of frequent trauma (10).…”

Hydatidosis of a Pregnant Woman of the 3rd Century bc, Greece

“…It is a miracle that only this calcified cyst survived and was carefully picked up with the rest of her bones after the pyre cooled down. Anaphylactic shocks occur frequently (Khelil et al ., ), in particular during pregnancy because of decreased immunological responses (Abu Eshi & Ali, ). Her earrings ( ενώτια ) decorated with molossus‐type dogs made of semi‐precious stones may serve as indirect evidence that it was her love of Canis familiaris that led her to an early death.…”

Misdiagnosed behavior change revealing fatal primitive intra-cerebral echinococcosis

“…[1,3,4] The world's major endemic regions are the Mediterranean Basin, South America, Asia, including India, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey; and parts of East Africa. [1][2][3] Indeed the total number of infested subjects is estimated at 2-3 million worldwide [5] and the severity of this disease lies mainly in its acute complications (rupture, superinfection, anaphylactic shock, etc.) with a risk of sudden death attributed to this parasitosis which remains today "serious and not exceptional".…”

“…[6] This mortality mainly affects young people. [5,6] Brain localizations are part of the so-called unusual or aberrant localizations of this parasitosis (extra-hepatic and extra-pulmonary) observed in less than 10% of cases. [7,8] The psychiatric manifestations revealing cerebral hydatid cyst remain exceptional and often unrecognized and neglected by practitioners despite their potential severity.…”