Acute appendicitis due to schistosomiasis: four cases at the Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital of Ouagadougou.

ABSTRACT

Acute appendicitis is a frequent pathology with diverse causes. Although Burkina Faso is a tropical country with endemic schistosomiasis, bilharzial appendicitis remains rare. We report 4 cases of appendicitis due to schistosomiasis that we treated at the university hospital of Yalgado Ouédraogo to call attention to the need for routine review of appendectomy parts. Four male patients, aged 22, 26, 30, and 35 years old, were admitted for abdominal pains. Eosinophilia was observed in one case. The preoperative diagnosis was acute appendicitis in 2 cases and appendiceal peritonitis in 2 others. Appendectomy was performed in all cases. Pathological examination of the appendectomy piece observed acute suppurative appendicitis due to schistosomiasis, specifically, Schistosoma haematobium. All patients received praziquantel for antiparasite treatment. Clinical course was uncomplicated in all cases. Routine antiparasite treatment would make it possible to prevent these cases of bilharzial appendicitis. In addition, routine histologic examination of appendectomy parts would enable us to determine the real frequency of this disease in our country, where bilharziasis is endemic. The treatment is appendectomy and the prognosis is good.