Smartest Doc
Clinical Manifestations in Children With Ruptured Appendicitis
Pediatric Emergency Care, 05/15/2012
Hung MH et al. – Younger age, longer duration of abdominal pain, fever, muscle guarding, and elevated C–reactive protein level are significantly associated with a perforated appendix; these factors should be closely considered in the evaluation of individuals with suspected appendicitis.
Methods- The medical records of children aged 17years or younger with a postoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis treated at Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, from January 2002 and May 2009, were retrospectively reviewed.
- The patients were divided into with and without ruptured appendicitis.
- Of the 228 patients, 140 had a postoperative pathological diagnosis of a nonperforated appendix, and 88 had a diagnosis of perforated appendix, resulting in a perforation rate of 38.6%.
- Younger age, longer duration of abdominal pain, fever, muscle guarding, and elevated C-reactive protein level were significantly associated with a perforated appendix.
