Hydatid Disease, October 10, 1997

Hydatid Disease, October 10, 1997

Hydatid disease, also known as echinococcosis, alveolar echinococcosis, or cystic echinococcosis, is commonly seen in pastoral areas and among fur traders. Cattle, sheep, and dogs can all serve as intermediate hosts, leading to the disease, with an incubation period that can last over 20 years. The liver, lungs, and brain are the most common organs affected. The intracystic fluid skin test has a 70%–95% positive rate; ELISA testing has high sensitivity. Surgery is effective, with Jiang Cipeng’s formula: codonopsis, white atractylodes, astragalus, pangolin, honeycomb, earthworm, snake shed, cicada shed, jujube, thunder pill, betel nut, and psoralin. This formula is similar to the one for dissolving lymph nodes, except for two ingredients: replacing all centipedes with cicada sheds and snake sheds, using the mnemonic “Earthworm, Cicada, Snake Shed” instead.