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Paediatric appendicitis during the COVID ‐19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Sheath Chloe,
Abdelrahman Mohamed,
MacCormick Andrew,
Chan David
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.15359
Subject(s) - medicine , covid-19 , pandemic , betacoronavirus , appendicitis , coronavirus infections , medline , virology , intensive care medicine , general surgery , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty) , disease , political science , law
Aim The repercussions of the pandemic on patients without COVID‐19 have been well documented. Although there is evidence that adult patients present later with complicated appendicitis, the impact on the paediatric population is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the presentation and management of paediatric appendicitis. Methods Data from consecutive paediatric patients admitted with right iliac fossa pain to a teaching hospital from 1 March 2020 until 30 June 2020 (COVID‐19) were compared with patients admitted from 1 March 2019 until 30 June 2019 (control). Results One hundred and seventy‐two patients were admitted with right iliac fossa pain (control = 97, COVID‐19 = 75). Seven patients had a normal diagnostic laparoscopy in the control group compared with none in the COVID‐19 group. The proportion of patients diagnosed with appendicitis was significantly higher during the COVID‐19 pandemic (24% vs. 10%, P = 0.03). They presented later (3 days vs. 1 day, P < 0.01) with higher inflammatory markers (white cell count 15.8 vs. 13.2 × 10 9 cells per litre, P = 0.02; C‐reactive protein 53 vs. 27 mg/L P = 0.04). The majority of patients underwent surgery within 1 day of admission (94% COVID‐19 vs. 70% control, P = 0.13). Although there was a trend towards a greater proportion of complicated appendicitis (22% vs. 10%, P = 0.6) during COVID‐19, this did not affect outcomes (no morbidity in both groups, length of hospital stay 4 vs. 2.5 days, P = 0.29). Conclusion Despite presenting later during COVID‐19, paediatric patients with appendicitis were treated expediently with good outcomes.