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'Wormy'form appendix

Abraham Vincent Samuel Jesudoss1, Meryem Kaya, Rosanna Lombardo

  • 1General Surgery Department, Whipps Cross University Hospital, London, UK. abepfdr@gmail.com

BMJ Case Reports
|June 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Pinworm infections can rarely cause appendicitis in children by blocking the appendix. This uncommon presentation highlights the need to consider helminths in pediatric appendicitis cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Appendicitis is a frequent surgical emergency in pediatric populations.
  • Helminth infections, particularly pinworms (Enterobius vermicularis), are also prevalent in children worldwide.

Observation:

  • A rare case of appendicitis was observed in a child where the primary cause was identified as pinworm infestation.
  • The helminths led to luminal obstruction within the appendix, mimicking typical appendicitis symptoms.

Findings:

  • The study confirms that helminth (pinworm) infestation can obstruct the appendiceal lumen.
  • This obstruction results in a clinical presentation indistinguishable from common appendicitis.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider helminthic infections as a potential etiology for appendicitis in children, especially in endemic areas.
  • This finding may influence diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies for pediatric appendicitis.

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