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Subject Area

Internal Medicine

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to discuss and evaluate the best diagnostic tool (clinical, radiological, laboratory, or endoscopy) used to reach a final diagnosis and best intervention for most common presentation of surgical causes of common acute abdominal problems in infants and children. Background Acute abdominal pain is a group of acute life-threatening condition that requires emergency hospital admission and often emergency surgical intervention within 24 h of duration. Patients and methods Hundred children of both sexes aged between 1 day and 12 years who presented with surgical causes of common acute abdominal problems were divided into two groups. Group A included 83 patients who required surgical intervention. Group B included 12 patients who were managed conservatively. Results A total of 100 children attended with complaints of abdominal pain during the study. Thirty-six children had confirmed final diagnosis as appendicitis and eight had complicated appendix, and 20 were diagnosed radiologically (either on ultrasonography or computed tomography scan) as intussusception. The remaining 24 cases were diagnosed clinically. The majority of cases of intestinal obstruction were diagnosed radiologically. All diagnoses of Mickel's diverticulum, necrotizing enterocolitis, incarcerated inguinal hernia, and ovarian and testicular torsion were confirmed by means of radiological investigation. The remaining 12 patients who did not need surgical intervention were managed conservatively. Conclusion Radiological and minimally invasive techniques are becoming important in the diagnosis of surgical abdomen in children. Urgent surgical intervention remains the gold standard for most cases. Appendicitis is mainly clinical diagnosis.

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