Pattern of acute appendicitis in Nigerian children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency in children.
• Understanding its presentation and outcomes is crucial for pediatric care.
• Previous studies highlight variations in clinical features and complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review cases of acute appendicitis in children at a specific hospital.
• To analyze the disease's incidence, clinical presentation, and outcomes.
• To identify factors contributing to morbidity and mortality.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 47 pediatric acute appendicitis cases.
• Data collected over a 7-year period (1980-1986).
• Analysis of patient demographics, clinical features, treatment, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Acute appendicitis accounted for 0.43% of pediatric admissions and 18% of abdominal emergencies.
• Clinical features were comparable to other populations.
• A trend towards late presentation with significant post-operative morbidity was observed.

Conclusions:

• Late presentation of acute appendicitis in children is a concern.
• Effective management strategies are needed to reduce post-operative morbidity.
• While morbidity was high, mortality was low, indicating successful treatment of severe cases.