Abdominal cocoon: Report of five cases

Abdominal cocoon (idiopathic sclerosing peritonitis) has now been reported in many parts of the world but remains principally a disease of the tropics and sub-tropics, Five cases diagnosed at a rural Kenyan hospital between 1 993 and 1998 are presented and the operative findings and management is dis cussed. Although the condition normally occurs in adolescent girls, one pat ient was noted to be forty two years of age, and was subsequently found to have AIDS.