title: [Acute appendicitis in very young children].
abstract: Two girls, aged 8 months and 3 years respectively, presented with dehydration, vomiting and fever. The youngest girl was diagnosed first with gastroenteritis and was treated accordingly. Her condition deteriorated however, and she showed symptoms of a high bowel obstruction. Laparotomy revealed a perforated inflamed appendix. An intestinal invagination was suspected in the older girl, yet laparotomy revealed a perforated appendix. Appendicitis can be difficult to diagnose in very young children due to atypical presentation and age-related difficulties in communication. Most importantly, physicians must be aware that appendicitis may also occur in very young children. Although the Paediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS) is a helpful tool in diagnosing appendicitis in young children, a solid physical examination is most important. When in doubt, early surgical consultation is necessary to limit the delay in diagnosis and to prevent complications.
authors.affiliation: Universitair Medisch Centrum St Radboud, Afd. Heelkunde, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Saskia J M
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kamphuis
authors.forename: Edward C T H
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Karijn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kleizen
authors.forename: Daniël C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Aronson
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Blaauw
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant