Ten-year experience with pediatric splenic Hydatidosis: Clinical profiles, surgical outcomes, and prognostic indicators

Hydatidosis, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, poses significant public health challenges, particularly in endemic regions. While hepatic and pulmonary involvement are common, splenic hydatidosis in pediatric populations is rare and frequently underreported. In this retrospective observational study, we present a decade-long single-center experience (2014-2024) in pediatric splenic hydatidosis, detailing demographic profiles, clinical presentations, imaging characteristics, and surgical outcomes. Ten patients (mean age: 11.3 years) were evaluated, with abdominal pain as the predominant symptom and cyst sizes ranging from 40 to 220 mm (WHO-IWGE classification: 1CE-CE3b). Total splenectomy was performed in nine cases, with one patient undergoing partial splenectomy. Preoperative albendazole was administered to eight patients, and postoperative albendazole to nine patients; long-term therapy (2-8 months) was provided in seven cases. Prophylactic measures, including pneumococcal vaccination and postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis, were implemented, resulting in no cases of overwhelming postsplenectomy infection or hydatid recurrence during a mean follow-up of approximately four years. These findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis, appropriate surgical intervention, and diligent long-term follow-up, as well as the need for strengthened public health initiatives to reduce the disease burden in endemic regions.