Appendicitis in children

[Dave Paprocki]

Appendicitis is inflammation and infection of the appendix.

Appendicitis seems to develop when the appendix becomes blocked either by hard fecal material (called a fecalith) or swollen lymph nodes in the intestine that can occur with various infections.
Pain typically starts around the bellybutton (umbilicus) and then moves to the right lower abdomen but it may also be widespread and it may make children irritable or listless.
Diagnosis is challenging and may require blood tests, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or laparoscopy.
An inflamed appendix is usually removed surgically.

(For adults, see Appendicitis.)
The appendix is a small finger-length portion of intestine that does not clearly have any essential bodily function. However, appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires surgery. This disorder is rare in children younger than 1 year but becomes more common as children grow older and is most common among adolescents and adults in their 20s.
Appendicitis seems to develop when the appendix becomes blocked either by hard fecal material (fecalith) or swollen lymph nodes in the intestine, which can occur with various infections. In either case, the appendix swells, and bacteria in it grow. Rarely, swallowed foreign objects and infections with certain parasitic worms (such as strongyloidiasis) can also cause appendicitis.