The features of physical diagnosis for acute appendicitis in children

Abstract

Objective To investigate the features of physical diagnosis for acute appendicitis in the children of different age periods. Methods Four hundred and thirty-one cases with acute appendicitis (postoperative diagnosis) were enrolled in this study, and divided into newborn, infant, preschool, and school age-groups.The clinical physical diagnosis of each group was retrospectively analyzed to summarize the features. Results Three newborns(accounting for about 0.70%) were characterized by abdominal distention, bad spirit, weak bowel sounds, and so on.Thirty-one infants′ (7.19%) physical diagnosis were mainly percussion pain, positive speed humps test, rebound tenderness.The features of preschool group (162 cases, 37.59%) were mainly percussion pain, rebound tenderness, bowel sounds changing.The features of school age group (235 cases, 54.52%) were principally percussion pain, speed humps test positive, rebound tenderness. Conclusions There are discrepancies between four age-groups in the features of acute appendicitis.Detailed and accurate physical diagnosis can provide important diagnostic evidences of acute appendicitis in children. Key words: Child; Appendicitis; Physical examination; Diagnosis