Apendicitis aguda en la niñez

Abstract

Acute appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdominal syndrome in childhood and is the most frequent reason for emergency surgery worldwide. It has a higher incidence between 9 and 12 years of age; it is infrequent in children under 5 years of age and rare in newborns and infants.It is the acute inflammation of the cecal appendix due to multiple factors that obstruct the appendiceal lumen: fecaliths; hypertrophy and hypersecretion of Peyer's plaques -causes of an infectious process and accumulation of purulent material, responsible for obstruction of the cecal appendix and thickening of the wall-; foreign bodies -seeds, pins, fish bones, among others-; parasites -enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) and ascaris lumbricoides, for example-; persistent vascular spasms; anatomical causes such as bands that cause kinking of the appendix; as well as viral or bacterial infections.The clinical picture of this pediatric surgical disease is characterized by abdominal pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting and fever; although its presentation may vary, especially in infants and young children.Acute appendicitis in childhood constitutes a challenge to even the most experienced surgeons. This is due to the variety of symptoms it causes, which may suggest other clinical diseases. Hence the need to always suspect it in order to diagnose and treat it accurately and promptly, which can prevent serious complications.