Schistosomiasis presenting as acute appendicitis with mesenteric nodule filled with bilharzial ova: clinical report

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a tropical prevalent chronic granulomatous disease that can affect any organ.1 Clinical manifestations of Schistosomiasis vary according to schistosoma species, such as Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium, and Schistosoma japonicum, all of which have similar lifecycles. S. mansoni and S. japonicum cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Without treatment, Schistosoma typically survives in the human body for up to 5 years, but may continue up to 40 years. Chronic infection usually results in life threatening illness due to persistent tissue damage and fibrosis caused by body inflammatory reaction to eggs found in the affected organs. Ordinarily, S. mansoni infects the intestine and liver, while S. haematobium infects the bladder, kidney and ureters. Two uncommon exhibitions of gastrointestinal Schistosomiasis are appendicitis and chronic periodic epigastric discomfort caused by mesenteric thrombosis.2 We document here a case where patient presented with acute appendicitis due to Schistosomiasis infection, established upon histopathological investigation of the excised appendix.