Parasitic infection mimicking acute appendicitis in an adult male-A rare case

Abstract

The most common helminthic infection occurring worldwide is considered to be Enterobius Vermicularis commonly known as pinworm or thread worm mainly in GIT.1,2 The incidence of Enterobius Vermicularis infection is predominantly seen in children which is around 4% to 28% and is rarely seen in adults.3,4 The most common route of infection is through feco-oral route. Enterobius Vermicularis infection is generally asymptomatic, if it infects appendix it may mimic acute appendicitis without histological evidence of acute inflammation.5,6 The pathological diagnosis of Enterobius Vermicularis in appendix is an infrequent finding and is mainly associated with chronic inflammatory infiltrate & eosinophils in the mucosa without invasion of mucosa by the parasite.7 We report a case of 22year old young adult male with right iliac fossa tenderness who underwent appendicectomy and pathology revealed Enterobius Vermicularis.