TRIGGERS APPENDICITIS

 'UNKNOWN FLU-LIKE VIRUS TRIGGERS APPENDICITIS'

London: Doctors have for long wondered what triggers appendicitis. Now, a new study has claimed that the condition may be caused by a yet unknown flu-like virus and it may notn require an emergency surgery.

 

             An team led by Edward Livingston, chief of GI/ endocrine surgery at UT Southwestern, believes that a link to viral infection could explain why appendicitis appears to be more common in certain years and during the summer.Appendicitis is the most common reason  for emergency surgery.

               

           The scientists examined American hospital admissions for appendicitis, influenza and gastric viral infections over 36 years.  Their analysis showed appendicitis peaked in the years 1977,1981,1984,1987,1994 and 1998. That clustering pattern suggested outbreaks were typical of viral infections. PTI