Abstract
Abstract
Background:
Acute appendicitis (AA) is a frequent and emergent surgical abdominal condition that presents some particularities and challenges in young children.
Patients and Methods:
Data of 402 children aged n
= 44) and Group B (school children aged >5 years,
n
= 358). Clinical presentation, biological findings, calculated diagnosis scores (paediatric appendicitis score [PAS] and Alvarado score), intraoperative findings and outcomes were comparatively analysed between the two groups.
Results:
Children of Group A had more likely fever, bowel disorders, diffuse abdominal pain and diffuse tenderness than those of Group B (
P
= 0.001,
P
= 0.005,
P
= 0.006 and
P
= 0.001, respectively). Regarding biomarkers, the mean of white blood cell count and C-reactive protein levels was higher in Group A than in Group B (18,849 cell/mm
3
and 162.8 mg/L in Group A versus 15,938 cell/mm
3
and 86.7 mg/L in Group B,
P
= 0.003 and P
= 0.003 and
P
= 0.001, respectively). Most children with a calculated PAS and Alvarado score equal to or higher than 8 belonged to Group A (PAS: 84.1% vs. 58.4%,
P
= 0.001, Alvarado score: 84.1% vs. 55.6%,
P
P
P
= 0.094).
Conclusion:
AA in preschool children is associated with atypical presentation and rapid progression of the disease making the early diagnosis mostly challenging in our settings.