In medical terms, a cyst in the body is called “Hydatid Cyst” that is actually an egg with a special worm inside surrounded by a protected covering. When this cyst reaches inside a human body, it starts enlarging in size gradually. For a cyst to reside in a human body, the most favourite organs is either lung or liver. This hydatid cyst is also found in other organs of human body such as brain, heart and muscles of hand or foot and sometimes even in the body bones. The worm that gives birth to cysts or eggs is only 5-millimetre-long and is called in medical terms as Echinococcus Granulosus. You will be surprised to know this worm prefers living only in the intestine of a dog instead of living in a human body and the total life span of this worm is only between 5 months to approximately 2 years. Within this short span of life, this worm would have spread lakhs of eggs to earth soil, through excreta (shit) of a dog in whose intestine it resides.
Dr. K. K. Pandey is a Senior Consultant in Thoracic & Endothoracic Surgery at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi, with 30+ years’ experience in lung cancer surgery, chest tumors, pleural diseases, VATS, esophageal surgery and minimally invasive thoracic procedures. He is also a dedicated health writer and educator.