Tropical diseases of the small bowel

Abstract

Abstract Typhoid and tuberculosis still account for the bulk of small bowel diseases encountered in surgical practice in most parts of the tropical world. In the emergency setting, these conditions present with perforation or obstruction of the intestine. Against this background must be considered the occasional appearance of conditions that lead to perforation or obstruction in temperate countries, e.g., lymphoma and regional enteritis. Children with infestations with parasites such as ascaris present a puzzling picture with acute abdominal signs. Tropical diseases affecting the small bowel are thus predominantly preventable. Their continued prevalence among causes of an acute abdomen indicates an unrealistic allocation of priorities in the mass control of endemic disease.