Abstract:

Background: HIV infection is not uncommon in patients presenting with appendicitis. This study was designed to establish the HIV seroprevalence and its effect on short term post-operative outcome among patients presenting with appendicitis at Bugando Medical Center.

Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was conducted from August 2008 to April 2009. Serial sampling method was used to obtain a sample size. Patients who met inclusion criteria were recruited in the study, data collected and analyzed by SPSS software.

Results: A total of 199 patients were recruited into the study. Mean age of HIV seropositive group was 38 (SD 8.05) years which was higher than mean age of HIV seronegative group which was 25.30 (SD 9.67), p-value = 0.001. Female predominated in this study with female to male ratio of 1.2:1. HIV seroprevalence was 13.1% and mean CD4 (+) count was 209.31 (SD95.29) cells/mm3. Some of HIV seropositive patient’s presented with atypical clinical features and the rate of perforated appendix with peritonitis was 30.85% in HIV seropositive group and 2.3% in HIV seronegative group; p-value=0.001. Out of 26 HIV seropositive patients only 39 (22.5%) stayed longer in the hospital, p-value=0.0001. In HIV seropositive group the late of postoperative complication was relatively higher (11.55%) than 0.6% in HIV seronegative patients, p-value=0.004.There was no mortality reported in both groups during the study period.

Conclusion: HIV seroprevalence was high in patients presenting with appendicitis at BMC. HIV seropositive patients with appendicitis may present with atypical clinical features, higher rate of perforated appendix with peritonitis and high morbidity.

Recommendations: HIV test for patients presenting with appendicitis. Early diagnosis and surgical signs and symptoms of appendicitis.