Your doctor may ask you about your symptoms and perform medical tests to diagnose your infection. For example, they may use a chest X-ray to rule out other types of infection. Your doctor may also use an abdominal MRI or CT scan to make their diagnosis.
Because the incubation period can be long, echinococcus parasites may be discovered while your doctor is performing medical tests for other reasons.
Certain medications can destroy the parasite. In some cases, your doctor may also recommend surgery. Your specific treatment plan will depend on the severity of your symptoms, as well as the organs affected.
Medication
Medication is almost always used to treatechinococcus. For example, your doctor may prescribe mebendazole or albendazole.
They may also recommend taking anti-inflammatory medication to treat inflammation of your organs caused by the parasite. Sometimes chemotherapy medications can be used to treat organ cysts caused by the parasite.
Surgery
In some instances, your doctor may recommend surgery to treat cysts caused by the infection. If the infection has affected your brain and fluid has accumulated there, your doctor may also recommend surgery to install a shunt. This device is used to drain fluid from your brain.
