Patients managed for a lung hydatid cyst : what do they know about their pathology ?

Abstract

Introduction: Hydatid disease remains a real public health problem in many traditional pastoral farming countries. Its prevention is the most effective solution.

Aim: Our study aimed to assess the knowledge of patients managed for a lung hydatid cyst concerning their pathology.

Methods: Between November 2018 and July 2019, we carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study, in a thoracic surgery department, about the knowledge and information that patients with hydatid cyst had about the disease.

Results: Thirty-four patients responded to our survey. The mean age was 37.18 ± 18.43 years old. Most of our patients came from rural areas. Among the 30 patients under the age of 60, 12 (40%) were housewives. Three patients (8.8%) had already been operated on for a cyst. Thirty patients (88.3%) reported having contact with dogs and sheep. If a cyst was suspected in the sheep’s offal, 20.6% (7 cases) threw them in the trash and 14.8% gave them to the dog (5 women). Among the respondents, 50% (17 cases) did not know the modes of human contamination. Knowledge of clinical signs suggestive of the disease and modes of contamination were correlated with the level of education. Fourteen patients (41.2%) raised the possibility of disease recurrence. Among the means of prevention, thorough washing of fruits and vegetables was cited in 3 cases (21.4%) and incineration of soiled offal in 1 case (7.2%).

Conclusion: Assessment of patients' knowledge about hydatid disease must be systematic in countries with high endemicity of hydatidosis, in order to identify false practices and correct them, to break the parasitic cycle. Educational messages should target the rural population and be adapted to their level of education.