RETROSPECTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF HYDATID CYST DISEASE IN BABYLON GOVERNORATE, IRAQ

Background: Hydatid disease, often known as cystic echinococcosis (CE), is a neglected zoonotic parasitic infection caused mostly by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. In endemic areas, like as the Middle East, where rural exposure and close contact with domestic animals can further assist transmission, it continues to be a serious public health concern. Objectives:To outline the morphological, scientific, sociodemographic, and epidemiological features of hydatid cyst disease in patients assessed at Hilla Teaching Hospital in the Babylon Governorate of Iraq. Materials and Methods: From January 2025 to January 2026, a retrospective epidemiological investigation was conducted at Hilla Teaching Hospital. 218 individuals medical records were examined. Anatomical, medical, social, and demographic factors were taken out. IBM SPSS Statistics model 24.Zero was used to analyze the data. Pearsons chi-square test was used to assess categorical data, and Student's t-test was employed where appropriate for continuous variables. A P-value of less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.