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Summary: Hydatid disease is a cosmopolitan anthropozoonosis, which is endemic in the Maghreb countries. The seat of choice in children is pulmonary with characteristics peculiar to the age group. Aim: To study the characteristics of pulmonary hydatid disease in children according to age group. Patients and methods: This is a single-center retrospective study, which focused on 757 children aged between 3 and 15 years, operated between January 1985 and December 2009. Our patients were divided into two groups according to age group: group 1 that of small children (3 to 7 years) with 153 cases and group 2 that of older children (8 to 15 years) included 604 cases. Results: Respiratory signs indicative of the diagnosis were more common in older children with a statistically relevant difference between the two groups. General symptoms were more frequent in group 1 (P =0.0001). An image of a non-complicated cyst was visualized in 46.2% of the first group and 84.8% of the second group (P =0.018). Anatomic resections were significantly more common in small children. No recurrence of pulmonary hydatid disease was found after a mean follow-up of 72 months. Conclusion: Pulmonary hydatidosis in children presents peculiarities related to the age group that must be considered in the diagnosis and management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]