Editing Echinococcosis (section)

==Signs and symptoms==
[[File:Parasite180022-4-olm Cystic echinococcosis in a cat.ogg|thumb|Removal of cysts (here, from a definitive host, a cat)]]
[[Image:Cotton rat infected with Echinococcus multilocularis 3MG0020 lores.jpg|thumb|Cysts in a [[cotton rat]]]]
[[Image:Laminated liver cyst wall - high mag.jpg|thumb|[[Micrograph]] showing the characteristic laminated cyst wall.[[H&E stain]].]]

In the human manifestation of the disease, ''E. granulosus'', ''E. multilocularis'', ''E. oligarthrus'' and ''E. vogeli'' are localized in the liver (in 75% of cases), the lungs (in 5–15% of cases) and other organs in the body such as the spleen, brain, heart, and kidneys (in 10–20% of cases). In people who are infected with ''E. granulosus'' and therefore have cystic echinococcosis, the disease develops as a slow-growing mass in the body. These slow-growing masses, often called cysts, are also found in people that are infected with alveolar and polycystic echinococcosis.{{cn|date=May 2021}}

The cysts found in those with cystic echinococcosis are usually filled with a clear fluid called hydatid fluid, are spherical, and typically consist of one compartment and are usually only found in one area of the body. While the cysts found in those with alveolar and polycystic echinococcosis are similar to those found in those with cystic echinococcosis, the alveolar and polycystic echinococcosis cysts usually have multiple compartments and have infiltrative as opposed to expansive growth.<ref name="TappeDennis" /><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Canda MS, Canda T, Astarcioglu H, Güray M |title=The Pathology of Echinococcosis and the Current Echinococcosis Problem in Western Turkey |journal=Turk J Med Sci |volume=33 |pages=369–374 |year=2003 |url=http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/issues/sag-03-33-6/sag-33-6-5-0209-8.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928075250/http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/issues/sag-03-33-6/sag-33-6-5-0209-8.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2011  }}</ref>

Depending on the location of the cyst in the body, the person could be asymptomatic even though the cysts have grown to be very large, or be symptomatic even if the cysts are absolutely tiny. If the person is symptomatic, the symptoms will depend largely on where the cysts are located. For instance, if the person has cysts in the lungs and is symptomatic, they will have a cough, shortness of breath and/or pain in the chest.{{cn|date=May 2021}}

On the other hand, if the person has cysts in the liver and is symptomatic, they will suffer from abdominal pain, abnormal abdominal tenderness, hepatomegaly with an abdominal mass, jaundice, fever and/or anaphylactic reaction. In addition, if the cysts were to rupture while in the body, whether during surgical extraction of the cysts or by trauma to the body, the person would most likely go into anaphylactic shock and suffer from high fever, pruritus (itching), edema (swelling) of the lips and eyelids, dyspnea, stridor and rhinorrhea.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Bitton M, Kleiner-Baumgarten A, Peiser J, Barki Y, Sukenik S |title=Anaphylactic shock after traumatic rupture of a splenic echinococcal cyst |language=he |journal=Harefuah |volume=122 |issue=4 |pages=226–8 |date=February 1992 |pmid=1563683 }}</ref>

Unlike intermediate hosts, definitive hosts are usually not hurt very much by the infection. Sometimes, a lack of certain vitamins and minerals can be caused in the host by the very high demand of the parasite.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

The incubation period for all species of ''Echinococcus'' can be months to years, or even decades.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Kemp C, Roberts A |title=Infectious diseases: echinococcosis (hydatid disease) |journal=J Am Acad Nurse Pract |volume=13 |issue=8 |pages=346–7 |date=August 2001 |pmid=11930567 |doi=10.1111/j.1745-7599.2001.tb00047.x}}</ref> It largely depends on the location of the cyst in the body and how fast the cyst is growing.<ref name=Eckert04 />