Epidemiology of hydatidosis in Tunisian children and adolescents

Abstract Analysis of the operative reports of hospitals in the central area of Tunisia allowed to define the epidemiology of echinococcosis in children and adolescents. Four hundred forty-three patients under 20 years of age were operated on between 1980 and 1985. In children less than 10 years of age, boys are more often concerned than girls, whereas prevalence in girls occurs after 10 years of age. Liver involvement is more frequent in girls, whatever their ages. Prevention programs should consider the high frequency in young children.