ACUTE APPENDICITIS IN A 3-MONTHS-OLD INFANT: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Acute infantile appendicitis is an extremely rare condition, with high morbidity and mortality rates.

Its clinical presentation is non-specific, therefore clinical diagnosis is often difficult and may be

misunderstood by other medical conditions. Ultrasonography plays a fundamental role in diagnosis

of infantile appendicitis. In this case report we present a case of a 3-months-old male infant taken to

the Emergency Department by his parents due to repeated attacks of vomiting and inconsolable

crying. Our case was diagnosed as acute infantile appendicitis for which urgent surgery approach

was necessary. The purpose of our case report is to serve as a reminder to always consider acute

appendicitis as a cause of infantile acute abdomen, after having excluded all the most common

causes reported previously