SCHISTOSOMAL APPENDICITIS

This is a retrospective study involving 4708 consecutive appendix spec imens removed over a period of 6.5 years for a clinical diagnosis of a cute appendicitis, 64 (1.3%) of which showed histological evidence of schistosomiasis. Thirty-four schistosomal appendicitis (SA) cases were compared with 68 non-schistosomal appendicitis (NSA) cases admitted d uring the same period. SA patients were older in age, usually of male sex, mostly Egyptians acid tended to have a higher hemoglobin and a lo wer leukocyte count (P<0.05). Other features were not significantly di fferent. It is concluded that, despite these differences, there are no reliable clinical or laboratory features by which SA can be predicted preoperatively. The majority of the studied patients were either disc harged before the results of the histopathology study were ready and w ere lost to follow-up or the reports were overlooked. Therefore, we re commend that for all post-appendectomy patients living in or coming fr om endemic areas of schistosomiasis, the results of the histopathology study should be processed as early as possible and before the patient can be discharged so that the treatment can be commenced. Moreover, e stablishing a system by which infected patients could be traced and he nce treated is highly recommended.