Schistosomiasis as an unusual cause of appendicitis.
Millions of people originating from tropical areas now live outside the country of their birth. As a consequence, the number of cases of diseases imported from the tropics and being seen by European physicians in immigrants is growing. As an example of such diseases, schistosomal appendicitis is a specific trait of infection with Schistosoma haematobium and is an uncommon cause of appendicitis in non-endemic areas. Treatment requires anti-schistomal medication in addition to surgery. Physicians, including surgeons, need to be aware of the possibility of seeing atypical presentations of parasitic diseases in immigrant patients.
Doudier
B
B
Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Center Hospitalo-Universitaire Nord, Marseille, France.
Parola
P
P
Dales
J P
JP
Linzberger
N
N
Brouqui
P
P
Delmont
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000469:parasitology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012548:Schistosoma haematobium; D012553:Schistosomiasis haematobia / Q000150:complications*