Echinococcosis multilocularis in a 7-Year-old Girl

Echinococcus multilocularis is an uncommon and life-threatening zoonosis caused by cestodes that is rarely encountered in children. A 7-year-old girl had for week been suffering from fever, maculopapular rush and right-sided upper abdominal symptoms not related to food intake. Laboratory tests were unremarkeble, except for an accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (16/40 mm) and transaminases (ALT 42 Ü/L, AST 40 Ü/L) and eosinophilia (5%). Upper abdominal sonography revealed multipl cyst, about 2-3 cm in diameter, in the right liver lobe. The antibody titre against echinococcus antigen was 1:320. Preoperative and postoperative treatment consisted of the administration of albendazole (20 mg/kg/Daily twice a day) for two years. Albendazole was administered in 4-week cycles with intervals of 14 days. We report this case because this disease is very rare in childhood and oral albendasole is able to effective in the treatment.