Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0085693 (acute appendicitis)
 3,606 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Acute appendicitis is among the most common indications for exploratory laparotomy during pregnancy. Although usually pyogenic in origin, parasitic infections account for a small percentage of cases. We report here the association of pregnancy and appendicitis caused by Schistosoma japonicum. Schistosomiasis is a very common complication of pregnancy, with 250,000,000 persons infected worldwide, including 20% of pregnant women living in hyperendemic areas. Schistosome egg masses can lodge throughout the body and cause acute inflammation of the appendix, fallopian tube, liver, and spleen. Congestion of pelvic vessels during pregnancy facilitates passage of eggs into the villi and intervillous spaces, causing an inflammatory reaction. Fetal anoxia and subsequent death has been attributed to heavy infestation of the placenta. Tourism, far-ranging military actions, and immigration make this disease a potential challenge for practitioners everywhere.
 ...
PMID:Schistosomiasis associated with rupture of the appendix in pregnancy. 250 94

Parasitic appendicitis is uncommon. The authors reviewed the pathology of 4,130 appendices resected over the past 10 years (2000 to 2009). Only one case of eosinophilic appendicitis caused by Schistosoma japonicum was identified. The overall prevalence of schistosomal appendicitis was 0.024%. The case was a 61-year-old woman who presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain. She had been a farmer in Chumphon and Surat Thani Provinces, which are endemic for schistosomiasis in Thailand. Physical, laboratory and ultrasound examinations were suggestive of acute appendicitis. She underwent emergency appendectomy. Intraoperative findings revealed a ruptured appendix with a fecalith in the appendiceal lumen. The histopathologic diagnosis was suppurative eosinophilic appendicitis with schistosomal ova in the mucosa, submucosa, muscular layer and vascular lumens, identified as S. japonicum eggs. The patient was treated for the parasite with praziquantal. We briefly review the clinicopathologic features and pathogenesis of schistosomal appendicitis.
 ...
PMID:Eosinophilic appendicitis caused by Schistosoma japonicum: a case report and review of the literature. 2107 26