Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026
11:18
Using the Threat Probability Task to Assess Anxiety and Fear During Uncertain and Certain Threat
Published on: September 12, 2014
15.8K
Complicated appendicitis wrongly diagnosed as nonspecific diarrhea: ways to decrease this continuous threat
Baruch Klin1,2, Leonid Zlotcavitch3, Oleg Lysyy4,5
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel - klin2@netvision.net.il.
Minerva Pediatrics
|July 20, 2018
Summary
Misdiagnosing complicated appendicitis as gastroenteritis in children leads to worse outcomes. Early surgical consultation and imaging are key to preventing delayed diagnosis of right lower quadrant pain.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Diagnosing right lower quadrant pain in pediatric patients presents diagnostic challenges.
- Appendicitis is frequently misdiagnosed as nonspecific diarrhea, leading to delayed treatment.
- This study investigates complicated appendicitis cases initially misdiagnosed as gastroenteritis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze cases of complicated appendicitis misdiagnosed as nonspecific diarrhea in children and adolescents.
- To propose a policy to reduce misdiagnosis rates for right lower quadrant pain.
- To improve diagnostic accuracy for pediatric abdominal pain.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of three patient groups: appendectomy (Group 1), gastroenteritis (Group 2), and appendectomy after misdiagnosis of gastroenteritis (Group 3).
- Comparison of clinical presentation, laboratory values, and treatment outcomes.
- Evaluation of diagnostic tools including C-reactive protein (CRP), abdominal ultrasound (US), and computed tomography (CT).
Main Results:
- Group 3 (misdiagnosed appendicitis) experienced a more complicated clinical course.
- Patients in Group 3 exhibited higher fever, diffuse abdominal pain, repeat vomiting, and elevated CRP.
- Group 3 also showed longer surgery duration and recovery periods compared to other groups.
Conclusions:
- Atypical right lower quadrant pain with diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and elevated CRP warrants early surgical consultation.
- Abdominal ultrasound should be considered for unclear cases.
- CT scans are recommended for cases unresolved by initial assessments.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Appendicitis-I: Introduction
2.5K
The appendix, a small, narrow, blind tube extending from the inferior part of the cecum, is widely regarded as a vestigial organ, having lost much of its original function through evolution. Despite its diminished role, the appendix can become inflamed, a condition known as appendicitis.
Etiology: Appendicitis can arise from various causes, primarily rooted in the obstruction of the appendix lumen. Factors contributing to this obstruction include fecal accumulation, lymphoid hyperplasia and, in...
Etiology: Appendicitis can arise from various causes, primarily rooted in the obstruction of the appendix lumen. Factors contributing to this obstruction include fecal accumulation, lymphoid hyperplasia and, in...
2.5K
02:09Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies
42.5K
When we hold a stereotype about a person, we have expectations that he or she will fulfill that stereotype. A self-fulfilling prophecy is an expectation held by a person that alters his or her behavior in a way that tends to make it true. When we hold stereotypes about a person, we tend to treat the person according to our expectations. This treatment can influence the person to act according to our stereotypic expectations, thus confirming our stereotypic beliefs. Research by Rosenthal and...
42.5K
01:50Threats to Biodiversity
27.1K
There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...
27.1K
01:27Decreasing Function
299
A decreasing function describes a relationship where the output consistently declines as the input increases. This means that for any two input values, if one is greater than the other, the corresponding output is smaller. Mathematically, a function f is decreasing on an interval I if for every x1 < x2 in I, f (x1) > f (x2). This type of behavior is visually identified on a graph that slopes downward from left to right.The nature of a function can be analyzed by calculating...
299
01:29Appendicitis-II: Diagnostic Studies and Management
586
Diagnosing and managing appendicitis requires a structured and comprehensive approach that spans from initial assessment to postoperative care. Here is an overview of the process:
Diagnosing Appendicitis
It requires a multifaceted approach, starting with a detailed physical examination to pinpoint the location and nature of the pain and identify any associated symptoms. Laboratory tests play a crucial role. A complete Blood Count (CBC) typically reveals leukocytosis (an increased number of...
Diagnosing Appendicitis
It requires a multifaceted approach, starting with a detailed physical examination to pinpoint the location and nature of the pain and identify any associated symptoms. Laboratory tests play a crucial role. A complete Blood Count (CBC) typically reveals leukocytosis (an increased number of...
586
01:29Decreased Body Temperature
1.1K
A decreased body temperature can occur in patients with hypothermia and frostbite. Heat loss with extended cold exposure overpowers the body's ability to create heat, resulting in hypothermia. Core temperature readings help classify hypothermia. Mild hypothermia is temperatures between 32 °C (89.6 °F) and 35°C (95 °F) and is caused by impaired thermoregulation. Moderate hypothermia is temperatures between 28 C (82.4 °F) and 32 °C (89.6 °F) caused by...
1.1K