Acute Appendicitis- Seasonal variation in incidence in Aba, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Acute Appendicitis is one of the commonest surgical emergencies worldwide. The incidence in age, sex and relation to seasons of the year show wide variations globally.
Objective: to ascertain if there is a seasonal variation in the incidence of acute appendicitis in Aba, Southeast Nigeria, using 3 Hospitals.
Design: Prospective study.
Setting: Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Jonex Hospital, Living Word Mission Hospital- all in Aba, Southeast Nigeria.
Subjects: patients with clinical and histological diagnosis of acute appendicitis at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Living Word Mission Hospital and Jonex Hospital in Aba, Southeast Nigeria. These patients were recruited into this 5- year prospective study which spanned from January 2014 to December 2018. The date of admission, biodata, clinical diagnosis and histological diagnosis were captured in a proforma designed for the study. Results were analyzed using SPSS Programme Version 21 and presented in tables and figure.
Results: Three hundred and twenty-one cases of acute appendicitis were seen during this period. 55% were males. There was a steady increase in the incidence of acute appendicitis over the years. In each of the years, the highest incidence was between November and March.
Conclusion: This study shows a monthly variation in the incidence of appendicitis in Aba, with higher incidence in the warm and dry months of the year and lower incidence in the wet and humid months of the year.