Η οξεία κοιλία όταν αφορά την προ- και νηπιακή ηλικία (και τις περισσότερες φορές οφείλεται σε οξεία σκωληκοειδίτιδα) αποτελεί διαγνωστική πρόκληση για τον γιατρό.
Acute appendicitis in the first years of life is an uncommon event. The clinical presentation is often varied and the diagnosis may be overshadowed by other medical conditions. Gastroenteritis is the most common misdiagnosis, with a history of diarrhea present in 33% to 41% of patients. Pain is the most common presenting symptom in children less than 5 years old, followed by vomiting, fever, anorexia and diarrhea. The most common physical sign is focal tenderness (61% of the patients) followed by guarding (55%), diffuse tenderness (39%), rebound (32%), and mass (6%).
