Parasitic Appendicitis in 14.797 Cases: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract
This study aimed to determine the frequency of Enterobius vermicularis in appendectomy specimens and evaluate the histopathological characteristics of adult and pediatric cases with E. vermicularis infection. Appendectomies examined from 1 January 2010, to 1 December 2020, were analysed retrospectively. Cases were divided into two groups: under 18 years (children) and 18 and over (adults). Demographic and histopathological characteristics of patients were also examined. Out of 14.797 patients that underwent appendectomy, 6.130 were children and 8.667 were adults. E. vermicularis was detected in 268 patients, wherein 64.2% were children and 35.8% were adults. In the detection of E. vermicularis in appendectomy specimens, the frequency was higher in children compared to that in adults (2.85%, 1.1%, respectively) (p<0.001). Histopathologically, acute appendicitis was defined in 31.7% (n=85) of 268 cases, and E. vermicularis was found to cause a higher rate of acute appendicitis in adults (p<0.001). The frequency of E. vermicularis in appendectomy specimens is higher in children. However, E. vermicularis causes acute appendicitis more frequently in adults.