Appendicitis and enterobiasis in children

Abstract

The importance of Enterobius vermicularis in the pathogenesis of appendicitis is not known. The authors found Enterobius in 38 (12.5%) of 303 appendices removed from children. No evidence was obtained for a pathogenic effect of the parasite in appendicitis: Negative laparotomy was significantly more common in the infested group than in the other children. The findings support the theory that E. vermicularis can cause symptoms resembling true appendicitis viz. appendicopathia oxyurica.