ABSTRACT
Background : Appendicitis is a common clinical condition worldwide. Differences in incidences; sex; age; and seasonal variations have been reported widely; with paucity of information from Nigeria. Aim : To assess the trends in incidence and pattern of variation with age; sex; and seasons of the year. Materials and Methods : A review of the records of all patients with confirmed appendicitis treated in both the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital (LTH) and the Abake Medical Center (AMC); both situated in Osogbo; Nigeria; between January 2003 and December 2008; was done. LTH was a 320-bed University Hospital (with 100 surgical beds); while AMC was a 20-bed surgical center. The age; sex; and month of admission of all the histologically proven cases of appendicitis were retrieved and treated. Analysis was done using simple percentages; Student t or Chi-square tests; where applicable. Results : A total of 299 out of 321 cases of appendicitis recorded during the observed period were confirmed histologically from both hospitals (69.56from LTH). Fifty-two percent were males. It made up 0.94; 1.43; and 1.86of the total hospital admissions in 2004; 2006; and 2008; respectively. There has been an increasing incidence in both sexes almost in a similar pattern. The overall mean age was 25.79 years (M 25.94 and F 25.43 years) with 6below the age of ten and 1.3above 60 years. The highest incidence in males and females occurred in the second and third decades; respectively. Incidences were higher during the rainy season (April to September) 68; P 0.05); with peaks from June to August; when 39.5of all cases presented. Conclusion : The increasing incidence of appendicitis in both sexes in this region may be due to the change to a Western lifestyle. The age distribution has a similar pattern in both sexes and 87are 40 years or less; although the incidence is marginally higher in males. Higher prevalence of infections and allergens from pollens in the rainy season could contribute to a higher incidence of appendicitis