title: Acute appendicitis: an overview.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an overview of the changing epidemiology of acute appendicitis in the developed and developing countries and the presumptive reasons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Major published series of the last two decades were reviewed using Medline Search and Index Medicus. The myriad of diagnostic approaches currently employed to reduce the hitherto high rates of negative appendicectomy were examined and current trends of management analysed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment modalities of acute appendicitis have undergone tremendous changes in the last decade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 19676, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Saidi
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Adwok
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans