[Human hydatidosis in children: manifestation of failure in the control and prevention measures. Chile, 2001-2011].

BACKGROUND

Hydatidosis is mainly a slowly developing disease, so its appearance in children and adolescents means a relatively recent acquisition; its quantification at this age groups is an indirect mechanism for the evaluation of a prevention and control program.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize human hydatidosis in children aged 0 to 18 years in Chile.

MATERIAL: Data from the Disease Notification System (2001-2009), hospital discharges (2001-2008), Deaths (2001-2008) and Years of Potential Life Lost (2001-2008) were used.

RESULTS

The incidence rate for the period was 4.4 cases per 100.000 inhabitants, male dominated. Hospital discharges rate for the period was 40.3 discharges per 100.000 inhabitants. The mortality rate for the period was 0.13 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence rates of cases reported, hospital discharges and mortality tend to decrease. However, each new infection reflects the failure of prevention and control, which suggested to incorporate surveillance system tracking and monitoring of cases particularly children's domiciled contacts.