Eosinophilic acute appendicitis caused by Strongyloides stercoralis and Enterobius vermicularis in an HIV-positive patient

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Mar 27:2012:bcr0120125670. doi: 10.1136/bcr.01.2012.5670.

Abstract

A 29 year old female HIV-positive patient presented in emergency with acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain, fever, tenderness and positive Blumberg sign. Laboratorial tests revealed eosinophilia, anaemia and leukocytosis. She underwent exploratory laparotomy followed by appendectomy. The pathological analysis of the appendix revealed acute appendicitis, accentuated eosinophilia and infestation by Strongyloides stercoralis and Enterobius vermicularis. She did well after surgery and adequate treatment. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of eosinophilic acute appendicitis caused by these two parasitic worms reported in the medical literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Appendicitis / parasitology*
  • Appendicitis / surgery
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Enterobiasis / diagnosis*
  • Enterobiasis / surgery
  • Enterobius
  • Eosinophilia / parasitology*
  • Female
  • HIV Seropositivity*
  • Humans
  • Strongyloides stercoralis
  • Strongyloidiasis / diagnosis*
  • Strongyloidiasis / surgery