Acute appendicitis in children: Emergency department diagnosis and management

Early diagnosis of appendicitis in infants and children can prevent perfora tion, abscess formation, and postoperative complications, and can decrease cast by shortening hospitalizations. This article reviews the epidemiology, physiology, and age-specific clinical presentation of childhood appendicit is. The accuracy of diagnostic adjuncts is reviewed, as are strategies for avoiding misdiagnosis and improving emergency department evaluation and man agement.