Mohiuddin Chowdhury Abu Taiub Mohammed, Liu Yonglin, Liu Juan, Jiao Fuyong, Dan Guo, He Shuixiang
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710000, China.
Department of Pediatrics, Shenmu County Hospital, Yulin 719300, China.
Transl Pediatr. 2020 Feb;9(1):81-85. doi: 10.21037/tp.2020.02.01.
Appendicitis and convulsions are two common pathologies among children. Though appendicitis has some certain symptoms, they might present with atypical symptoms in young ages. Here we present a misleading case of a perforated appendix that presented with severe generalized convulsion, no significant abdominal symptoms and had a recent history of mild gastrointestinal problems. The primary symptoms and the related examination findings guided the differential diagnosis as viral encephalitis, febrile convulsion, and Epilepsy. The initial treatment was started accordingly with an aim to prevent further convulsion. But this case was later diagnosed as a case of peritonitis following perforated appendix and was operated successfully. After surgery, the patient recovered with no further attack of convulsion even following the postoperative withdrawal of sedative therapy. He was discharged on the 7 postoperative day and there were no major complaints on his follow-ups. Such misleading cases usually lead to misdiagnosis and might cause morbidity, even endanger the life of the patient. Therefore regarding children of sudden generalized convulsion with even minute abdominal findings or recent gastrointestinal history, it is necessary to pay attention and evaluate the abdomen by a CT or MRI besides the nervous system at the first impression.
阑尾炎和惊厥是儿童常见的两种病症。虽然阑尾炎有一些特定症状,但在幼儿中可能表现为非典型症状。在此,我们呈现一例穿孔性阑尾炎的误导性病例,该病例表现为严重的全身性惊厥,无明显腹部症状,且近期有轻度胃肠道问题病史。主要症状及相关检查结果将鉴别诊断导向病毒性脑炎、热性惊厥和癫痫。最初据此开始治疗,旨在预防进一步惊厥。但该病例后来被诊断为穿孔性阑尾炎继发腹膜炎,并成功进行了手术。术后,即使术后停用镇静治疗,患者也未再出现惊厥发作,康复良好。术后第7天出院,随访期间无重大不适。此类误导性病例通常会导致误诊,可能引发发病,甚至危及患者生命。因此,对于突发全身性惊厥的儿童,即使有细微的腹部体征或近期胃肠道病史,在初诊时除了评估神经系统外,还需注意并通过CT或MRI对腹部进行评估。