AMEBIC-COLITIS WITH PERFORATION FOLLOWING APPENDICITIS

Amoebic appendicitis is very rare, occurring in about 0,5 to 1% of acu te appendicitis in tropical countries. The most severe complication is transmural amoebic colitis with perforation, described in 1,6 to 3,2% of cases. The mortality of such cases can be very high (up to 80%), W e present a Swiss patient with amoebic appendicitis followed by severe perforated collitis, a total colectomy was necessary and the patient survived. Because of the good results of amoebicidal therapy and becau se of the severity of the complication after colitis we suggest that p atients with signs of acute appendicitis after travel in tropical area s should be screened.