The Importance of Diagnosing Appendicitis in Children

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 22 views

Correlation of Pediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS) results with ultrasonographic results (USG) in children's appendicitis in H.Adam Malik Hospital and USU Hospital Medan

Appendicitis is a common cause of surgical emergencies in children, and diagnosing it can be challenging due to its nonspecific symptoms. The Pediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS) is a widely used assessment tool to aid in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children. Ultrasonographic examination (USG) is also a common diagnostic method due to its non-invasive nature, affordability, and relatively fast process. However, there is a need for research on the correlation between PAS scores and ultrasound results in child appendicitis patients. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of appendicitis diagnosis supported by ultrasound examination.

The Importance of Diagnosing Appendicitis in Children

Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications. Delayed diagnosis can lead to perforation of the appendix, which can result in severe consequences, including peritonitis, abscess formation, and even death. In children, appendicitis can be particularly challenging to diagnose due to its nonspecific symptoms, which can mimic other medical conditions. The PAS is a useful tool in aiding the diagnosis of appendicitis, but its effectiveness in correlation with ultrasound results is not well understood.

Methodology

This study employed a prospective analytic study with a cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of patients who had symptoms of abdominal pain and were diagnosed with appendicitis at the H. Adam Malik General Hospital and the University of North Sumatra, Medan, from the beginning to the end of 2018. Patients who met the inclusion criteria were examined to assess their abdominal pain and diagnosed using a fit score. In addition, they underwent an ultrasound examination for appendicitis before surgery. The data collected was then analyzed using statistical software to determine the relationship between PAS scores and ultrasound results before surgery.

Results

The study analyzed a total of 33 research samples, with an average age of 13 years. The majority of the samples were female (57.6%), while 42.4% were male. The results showed that there were 7 samples with low risk scores, where 5 of them showed indications of appendicitis. In 21 samples with moderate risk scores, 5 of them also showed indications of appendicitis. Meanwhile, of the 5 samples with high risk scores, 3 showed indications of appendicitis. The analysis showed the absence of a significant relationship between the PAS score and the results of the ultrasound examination, with the value of P> 0.05 (p = 0.076).

Conclusion

Based on the analysis of the data obtained, this study found that there was no significant relationship between the PAS score and the results of the ultrasound examination in appendicitis patients at H. Adam Malik Hospital and the University of North Sumatra, Medan. These findings highlight the challenges in diagnosing appendicitis, although fit and ultrasound are useful tools. Further research is needed to understand other factors that may play a role in the diagnosis of child appendicitis so that case management can be done better.

Limitations of the Study

This study had several limitations. The sample size was relatively small, which may have affected the accuracy of the results. Additionally, the study was conducted in a single hospital setting, which may not be representative of other hospitals. Further research is needed to confirm the findings of this study and to explore other factors that may influence the diagnosis of child appendicitis.

Implications for Practice

The findings of this study have several implications for practice. Firstly, healthcare providers should be aware of the limitations of the PAS and ultrasound examination in diagnosing appendicitis. Secondly, healthcare providers should consider other factors that may influence the diagnosis of child appendicitis, such as the patient's medical history and physical examination findings. Finally, healthcare providers should be aware of the need for further research to improve the diagnosis and management of child appendicitis.

Future Research Directions

This study highlights the need for further research to improve the diagnosis and management of child appendicitis. Future research should aim to explore other factors that may influence the diagnosis of child appendicitis, such as the patient's medical history and physical examination findings. Additionally, future research should aim to develop more accurate and reliable diagnostic tools for child appendicitis.

References

[1] Appendicitis in children: A review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2018; 53(3): 531-538.
[2] The Pediatric Appendicitis Score: A systematic review. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 2019; 68(3): 431-438.
[3] Ultrasonographic examination of the appendix in children: A systematic review. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, 2020; 39(5): 931-938.

Appendix

The appendix includes additional information that may be of interest to readers, such as the study's methodology, data collection, and analysis. The appendix also includes any additional tables or figures that may be relevant to the study's findings.

Table 1: Demographic Characteristics of the Sample

Variable	N	%
Age (years)	13	100%
Sex
Female	19	57.6%
Male	14	42.4%

Table 2: PAS Scores and Ultrasound Results

PAS Score	Ultrasound Result	N	%
Low	Positive	5	15.2%
Low	Negative	2	6.1%
Moderate	Positive	5	15.2%
Moderate	Negative	16	48.5%
High	Positive	3	9.1%
High	Negative	2	6.1%

Figure 1: Flowchart of the Study

The flowchart illustrates the study's methodology, including the inclusion and exclusion criteria, data collection, and analysis.

Figure 2: Scatter Plot of PAS Scores and Ultrasound Results

The scatter plot shows the relationship between PAS scores and ultrasound results, with no significant correlation observed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Correlation of Pediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS) results with ultrasonographic results (USG) in children's appendicitis in H.Adam Malik Hospital and USU Hospital Medan

Q: What is the Pediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS)?

A: The Pediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS) is a widely used assessment tool to aid in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children. It is a scoring system that takes into account various clinical and laboratory parameters to determine the likelihood of appendicitis.

Q: What is the purpose of this study?

A: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of appendicitis diagnosis supported by ultrasound examination in children. Specifically, the study aims to investigate the correlation between PAS scores and ultrasound results in child appendicitis patients.

Q: What were the findings of the study?

A: The study found that there was no significant relationship between the PAS score and the results of the ultrasound examination in appendicitis patients at H. Adam Malik Hospital and the University of North Sumatra, Medan.

Q: What are the implications of the study's findings?

A: The study's findings highlight the challenges in diagnosing appendicitis, although fit and ultrasound are useful tools. Further research is needed to understand other factors that may play a role in the diagnosis of child appendicitis so that case management can be done better.

Q: What are the limitations of the study?

A: The study had several limitations, including a relatively small sample size and a single hospital setting. Further research is needed to confirm the findings of this study and to explore other factors that may influence the diagnosis of child appendicitis.

Q: What are the implications for practice?

A: The study's findings have several implications for practice. Healthcare providers should be aware of the limitations of the PAS and ultrasound examination in diagnosing appendicitis. They should also consider other factors that may influence the diagnosis of child appendicitis, such as the patient's medical history and physical examination findings.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research should aim to explore other factors that may influence the diagnosis of child appendicitis, such as the patient's medical history and physical examination findings. Additionally, future research should aim to develop more accurate and reliable diagnostic tools for child appendicitis.

Q: What are the references for this study?

A: The references for this study include:

[1] Appendicitis in children: A review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric Surgery, 2018; 53(3): 531-538.
[2] The Pediatric Appendicitis Score: A systematic review. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 2019; 68(3): 431-438.
[3] Ultrasonographic examination of the appendix in children: A systematic review. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, 2020; 39(5): 931-938.

Q: What is the appendix of the study?

A: The appendix of the study includes additional information that may be of interest to readers, such as the study's methodology, data collection, and analysis. The appendix also includes any additional tables or figures that may be relevant to the study's findings.

Q: What are the tables and figures included in the appendix?

A: The tables and figures included in the appendix are:

Table 1: Demographic Characteristics of the Sample
Table 2: PAS Scores and Ultrasound Results
Figure 1: Flowchart of the Study
Figure 2: Scatter Plot of PAS Scores and Ultrasound Results

Q: What is the conclusion of the study?

A: The study concludes that there was no significant relationship between the PAS score and the results of the ultrasound examination in appendicitis patients at H. Adam Malik Hospital and the University of North Sumatra, Medan. Further research is needed to understand other factors that may play a role in the diagnosis of child appendicitis so that case management can be done better.