A 12-year-old boy from Iraq was relieved of 160 cysts in his heart, by doctors at a private hospital in Bengaluru on 3rd September.

"The four-hour-long surgery was successfully conducted and the patient withstood the procedure well", Dr Vivek Jawali, chief cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, who led the team of doctors at Fortis Hospital along with Paediatric cardiac surgeon, Dr Nischal Rajendra Pandya, said. Hydatid cysts or hydatid disease is a rare parasitic infection occurring mainly in the sheep rearing areas of the world, a statement issued by the hospital said on 3rd September.

Dr. Pandya said cases of intracardiac hydatid cysts are uncommon. Dr. Jawali said the boy was known to have contact with sheep and dogs through which it was transmitted. "These infections generally progress from the gut to the lungs. However, in this case, it was unusual", he said. Hydatid disease is a potentially serious and fatal disease which can be cured if treated at the right time and with the right technique, the statement said.

"It is widely endemic in the Middle Eastern countries, but it rarely occurs during childhood. This case usually involves the liver, which accounts to 5070 percent or the lungs, accounting to 2030 per cent. Isolated intracardiac hydatids are very rare, accounting to less than two percent of cases", the statement said.