CLINICAL FEATURE AND DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS IN CHILDHOOD

During a 30-year period ending in December 1987, 1105 childhood patients under 15 years with preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis were First Department of Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine During a 30-year period ending in December 1987, 1105 childhood patients under 15 years with preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis were operated in our department. Analytical study revealed that the overall negativeappendectomy rate was 7.3%, while the catarrhalis rate of appendicitis, 21%. Of 68 children under 4 years, 79% of them had perforation, which had occurred in 67% of those operated over 48 hours after the onset. The diagnostic discision was made from only clinical signs in the early term (Apr., 1948-Dec., 65), from clinical signs plus abdominal plain films in the middle term (Jan., 66-Dec., 78), and from Ba enema further added in the later term (Japn., -Dec., 87). In accordance with the change of diagnostic tools, the incidence of catarrhalis was decreased from 37.5% through 14.7% to 3.5% for each term respectively, showing q value of Ba enema.