Schistosomiasis as an unusual cause of appendicitis.

Millions of people originating from tropical areas now live outside the country of their birth. As a consequence, the number of cases of diseases imported from the tropics and being seen by European physicians in immigrants is growing. As an example of such diseases, schistosomal appendicitis is a specific trait of infection with Schistosoma haematobium and is an uncommon cause of appendicitis in non-endemic areas. Treatment requires anti-schistomal medication in addition to surgery. Physicians, including surgeons, need to be aware of the possibility of seeing atypical presentations of parasitic diseases in immigrant patients.