Résumé :
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[BDSP. Notice produite par INIST R0xRM8B8. Diffusion soumise à autorisation]. Andersson R (Department of Surgery, Ryhov Hospital, S-551 85, Jönköping, Sweden), Hugander A, Thulin A, Nyström P O and Olaison G. Clusters of acute appendicitis : Further evidence for an infectious aetiology. International Journal of Epidemiology 1995 ; 24 : 829-833. Background. The aetiology of appendicitis, the commonest cause of acute abdomen, is unknown. Infection has been proposed but the evidence has been unconvincing. The purpose of the present study was to investigate if temporo-spatial clustering and outbreaks, characteristics of infectious diseases, could be found in appendicitis cases in a defined Swedish population. Methods. Temporo-spatial clustering among 1155 cases from three districts of Jönköping County in 1984-1990 was identified by Knox space-time cluster analysis. Outbreaks were identified by retrospective study of temporal variations in 3590 consecutive cases of acute appendicitis from the city of Jönköping in 1969-1990. Results. Space-time clustering was found among patients with operations less than 60 days apart (observed/expected [O/E]-ratio 1.46, P=0.016). The finding of temporo-spatial interaction and outbreaks among appendicitis cases supports the concept that appendicitis may be caused by infectious agents.
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