Characteristics and Occurrence of Appendicitis in the Black Population in Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

In black patients seen at Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, appendicitis occurs most frequently in the 10-19-year-old age group. There is a pronounced male bias. Parasitic ova in the appendix are very seldom observed (3.6%). Fecaliths, present in 20% of diseased appendices, are noted far less frequently than are reported for white patients (50%-75%). There are about two cases of appendicitis per 1,000 admissions of adults annually, a low frequency consistent with the tenfold differential of appendectomies reported to prevail in urban black and white adolescents. The progressively changing diet of urban blacks, currently low in fat and in dietary fiber, has not yet become associated with a marked increase in the occurrence of the disease (nor of most other noninfective bowel diseases).