Appendicitis in Soweto, South Africa: traditional healers and hospitalization.

Appendicitis is near absent in rural blacks in Africa, and even in urban areas it remains very uncommon. Since the disease is new, and, moreover, potentially dangerous, a study was made of the antecedent history of 97 patients with proven appendicitis. Information was acquired concerning visits, and treatments and history, of (1) 34 patients who went first to traditional healers, and (2) 63 patients who sought orthodox medical attention. Of healers' treatments, none was beneficial; patients were ultimately directed, or decided to go to the hospital. Throughout Africa, traditional healers are held in high esteem and very extensively patronized. Accordingly, in both rural and in urban areas, concerted endeavours must be made by health authorities to promote recognition by healers of those diseases, acute or malignant, for which patients should be told to seek immediate medical attention.