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Intestinal helminths in some cases of acute appendicitis operated in Bamenda, Cameroon


C Pisoh-Tangnyin
FHL Kamga
FA Kechia
NS Laah
ML Guifo
S Takongmo

Abstract

Background: Acute appendicitis is the most frequent infectious surgical abdominal emergency and previous studies have noted the presence of parasites in the appendicular lumen.

Objective: This study was done to determine the involvement of intestinal worms in the etiology of acute appendicitis.

Materials and Methods: This was a prospective and descriptive study concerning cases of confirmed and operated acute appendicitis between 15th April, 2013 and 14th April, 2015 at the People’s Clinic, Ngomgham, Bamenda, Cameroon. The appendicular content was macroscopically examined for parasites and formol-ether concentration technique was carried out for ova detection.

Results: A total of 112 patients were operated for acute abdominal pain within the study period. There were 74 (60.8%) cases confirmed with acute appendicitis of which 45 (60.1%) were males and 29 (39.2%) were. The most affected age group was the 21 to 40 years (50%). The removed appendices appeared congestive in 30 (40.5%) cases, suppurated in 27 (40.5%) cases and gangrenous in 17 (23.0%) cases.There was no relationship between the appearance of the removed appendix and the gender of participants (P>0.05).Three different helminth ova were identified in the 74 samples. In decreasing prevalence, the parasite trend was 8 (10.8%) Ascaris lumbricoides, 5 (6.8%) Enterobius vermicularis, 3 (6.0%), Ankylostoma duodenale, Adult Ascaris lumbricoides and Enterobius vermicularis were seen in 1 and 3 cases respectively.

Conclusion: A small percentage of parasitic worm eggs were found in the appendicular content, though a good portion of patients took medications against parasites before surgery. Intestinal worms could not be incriminated in the causation of the appendicitis; nevertheless, one adult ascaris was found as an evident cause of appendicular lumen obstruction.

Keywords: Intestinal Helminthes, Acute appendicitis, Bamenda


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eISSN: 1595-689X