[Clinical features of pulmonary echinococcosis in 10 children].

Objective

To summarize the clinical characteristics of pediatric pulmonary echinococcosis (PE).

Methods

Case series study. Clinical data of 10 children with PE hospitalized in the Department of Respiratory Medicine and General and Thoracic Surgery at Beijing Children's Hospital Xinjiang Hospital from December 2022 to June 2025 were retrospectively collected, including general information, clinical manifestations, pulmonary imaging findings, laboratory test results, and treatment details.

Results

Among the 10 children, there were 7 males and 3 females. Three cases were asymptomatic. Seven cases presented with cough, including 2 cases with chest pain, 1 case with fever, and 1 case with dyspnea. Elevated peripheral blood eosinophil counts were detected in 5 cases. One case initially presented with severe idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Elevated C-reactive protein levels were noted in 3 cases. Pulmonary CT scans in all 10 children revealed solitary or multiple round or oval cystic fluid-density space-occupying lesions with high-density capsules visible at the margins and uniform density within the cysts. Two cases were complicated by obstructive emphysema, 2 cases by cystic cavities, 1 case by pyothorax. Five children had concurrent hepatic echinococcosis. All 10 children achieved complete intracapsular resection of pulmonary echinococcus cysts.

Conclusions

Pediatric PE can be asymptomatic or present with cough, chest pain, and dyspnea. It can initially manifest as ITP. Imaging findings demonstrate solitary or multiple round or oval cystic space-occupying lesions with well-defined hyperdense capsule margins, which may be accompanied by obstructive emphysema.