Alveolar Echinococcosis in Children

Young Age of Alveolar Echinococcosis Patient in Armenia: A Case Report

Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) remains a serious public health concern in endemic areas and a challenge for clinicians. Here a confirmed case of human AE in a patient from Armenia who had not visited a known Echinococcus multilocularis endemic area is reported. In October 2012, a 12-year-old girl from a little Armenian village, presented with paroxysmal pain in the right lumbar area to the children's medical center (MC). The girl mentioned having close contact with an animal, like a cat. She was admitted to the surgical department with a diagnosis of a malignant liver tumor in the right lobe. In November 2012, the patient underwent laparotomy, removal of the hepatic lesion and abdominal cavity drainage. The histopathological examination of the biopsy material confirmed the main diagnosis of liver AE with suppurative lesions. The patient was given albendazole (ABZ) following 20 days in the hospital, but she stopped receiving the preventive chemotherapy at home and even missed the dispensary visits. It later caused complications, and in July 2016, the child had once again surgery. In January 2017, the child was readmitted to the MC with no content from the external biliary drainage tube in the previous 6 hours. Bile flow improved after flushing the drainage with saline solution and suturing the enterostomy tube. In February 2017, the child visited MC for examination, and the drainage of the bile ducts was blocked, although she had neither discomfort nor jaundice. It was recommended to continue the patient's follow-up, to receive ABZ and to undergo a liver transplant surgery.

Parasites of the liver - epidemiology, diagnosis and clinical management in the European context

Parasites in the liver cause significant global morbidity and mortality, as they can lead to recurrent cholangitis, cirrhosis, liver failure and cancer. Due to climate change and globalisation, their incidence is increasing, especially in Europe. The correct diagnosis of a hepatic parasite is often delayed because clinicians are unfamiliar with respective entities. Therefore, in this review, we aim to provide clinicians with a comprehensive clinical picture of hepatic parasites and to bring these neglected parasitic liver diseases to the wider attention of hepatology stakeholders in Europe and around the world.