Human echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by the larval stages of the cestode parasites Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis, affecting an estimated 2-3 million people worldwide. Contamination of humans occurs by the ingestion of the parasite eggs, either after touching carnivore hosts, or after eating food contaminated by carnivore feces. E. granulosus causes benign tumors/cysts (hydatid cyst disease) that is most often curable. Disease due to E. multilocularis (alveolar hydatid disease) is less common but more difficult to treat. In echinococcosis, anaphylactic reactions might occur with fatal outcome.
Category
Parasitic infectious disease
Brite
Human diseases in ICD-11 classification [BR:br08403]
01 Certain infectious or parasitic diseases
Parasitic diseases
Helminthiases
Diseases due to cestodes
1F73 Echinococcosis
H01153 Human echinococcosis
Genome-based classification of infectious diseases [BR:br08401]
Parasitic infections (animals)
Infections caused by flat worms
H01153 Human echinococcosis
