An Atypical Case of Abdominal Pain in a Toddler: A Diagnostic Challenge

This article describes a case of a young toddler with an acute appendicitis complicated by perforation and abscess formation. Although acute appendicitis is uncommon in infants and younger children, it does occur and, as this case illustrates, is often misdiagnosed, which leads to delayed treatment and a higher incidence of complications. This article includes a discussion of the challenges faced by ED providers in the clinical-decision making process when caring for a pediatric patient with abdominal pain due to an acute appendicitis. This discussion includes the age-associated epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment.
Source: Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: CASES OF NOTE Source Type: research