Parasitic infestation as cause of acute appendicitis

Aim. The role of parasitic infestation in the cause of acute appendicitis has been long time discussed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of parasitic infestation in the etiology of acute appendicitis. Patients and methods. This retrospective study includes 5.100 patients undergoing surgical therapy for acute appendicitis between 1996 and 2005. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of the parasites in the appendix lumen: in Group 1 (n= 24) we observed parasitic infestation, whereas in patients of the Group 2 (n= 5.076) no parasitic infestation was present. Results. Parasitic infestation was detected in 24 (0.5%). Of 24 parasitic infestation, 12 (50%) were enterobiasis, 6 (25%) were schistosomiasis, 4 (17%) were Ascaris lumbricoides, and 2 (8%) were Taenia saginata. The ratios of the patients with suppurative, gangrenous or perforative appendicitis were similar in both groups. The ratio of the normal histological findings in the Group 1 patients (25%) was significantly higher than that in the Group 2 patients (4.8%, p= 0.001) Conclusion. Although parasitic infestation may result in symptoms resembling acute appendicitis, parasitic infestation can't be considered in the etiology of acute appendicitis.