Maximum Incidence of Appendicitis during Pubertal and Peri Pubertal Age Group Observed by Histological Study of Appendix

The prime function of appendix in adults is the immune function. Inflammat ion of the appendix is known as appendicitis. Although its etiology is controversial, in the majority of patients, appendicitis is thought to be provoked by obstruction of the appendiceal lumen caused by fecalith impact ion, muscular incoordination, lymphoid hyperplasia, or other processes. For the present work 318 appendix specimens from the patients who had been operated for appendicitis in General Surgery Department of Shri Sathya Sai Medical College Hospital were studied retrospectively and prospectively. 135 slides belonged to pubertal and peripubertal age groups. In that 71 cases showed obstruction due to fecalith in the lumen and 18 cases were due to lymphoid hyperplasia. Fecalith, associated with inflammation of mucosa, and lymphoid hyperplasia are believed to be the major cause of appendicitis.