Acute Non-Traumatic Abdominal Pain in Childhood at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya
Background: The assessment and diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in childhood is clinically challenging. The epidemiologic correlates differ for different paediatric age groups and settings. Objectives: To determine the clinical spectrum of acute abdominal pain in childhood at a referral Kenyan p...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Surgical Society of Kenya
2010-07-01
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| Series: | The Annals of African Surgery |
| Online Access: | https://www.annalsofafricansurgery.com/acute-non-traumatic-abdominal-pain- |
| _version_ | 1818082052240572416 |
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| author | Nyaga E.M .M Ndungu Anangwe GC |
| author_facet | Nyaga E.M .M Ndungu Anangwe GC |
| author_sort | Nyaga E.M |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The assessment and diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in childhood is clinically challenging. The epidemiologic correlates differ for different paediatric age groups and settings.
Objectives: To determine the clinical spectrum of acute abdominal pain in childhood at a referral Kenyan public hospital. Design Cross-sectional observational prospective study of 390 children presenting at the paediatric filter Clinic and wards at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Results: Boys were majority (62.4%). The mean patient age was 4.3 years. One hundred and thirty one patients (33.6%) were admitted and 74 of these (56.5%) underwent surgery. Majority of the children presented after 48 hours of onset of the abdominal pain. Surgical causes constituted 14% of all cases seen in the filter clinic. The most common causes of surgical abdominal pain were intussusceptions (25.7%) and appendicitis (30%) in infants and children > 6 years of age respectively. Of non surgical causes, upper respiratory tract infections (21%), gastroenteritis (15.6%) and non-specific abdominal pain (9.2%) predominated.
Conclusions: Medical causes are the leading cause of Acute Abdominal Pain in our locality but important and life threatening surgical causes must be recognized. Intussusception is a leading diagnosis in the infant while appendicitis is a top etiology in older children. History and physical examination remain the cornerstones in the approach to a patient with acute abdominal pain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:15:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c04527ca2e544fac81fab56627a90279 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-9674 2523-0816 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T19:15:58Z |
| publishDate | 2010-07-01 |
| publisher | Surgical Society of Kenya |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Annals of African Surgery |
| spelling | doaj.art-c04527ca2e544fac81fab56627a902792022-12-22T01:36:35ZengSurgical Society of KenyaThe Annals of African Surgery1999-96742523-08162010-07-016Acute Non-Traumatic Abdominal Pain in Childhood at Kenyatta National Hospital, KenyaNyaga E.M0.M Ndungu 1 Anangwe GC2Chuka District HospitalUniversity of Nairobichuka hospitalBackground: The assessment and diagnosis of acute abdominal pain in childhood is clinically challenging. The epidemiologic correlates differ for different paediatric age groups and settings. Objectives: To determine the clinical spectrum of acute abdominal pain in childhood at a referral Kenyan public hospital. Design Cross-sectional observational prospective study of 390 children presenting at the paediatric filter Clinic and wards at Kenyatta National Hospital. Results: Boys were majority (62.4%). The mean patient age was 4.3 years. One hundred and thirty one patients (33.6%) were admitted and 74 of these (56.5%) underwent surgery. Majority of the children presented after 48 hours of onset of the abdominal pain. Surgical causes constituted 14% of all cases seen in the filter clinic. The most common causes of surgical abdominal pain were intussusceptions (25.7%) and appendicitis (30%) in infants and children > 6 years of age respectively. Of non surgical causes, upper respiratory tract infections (21%), gastroenteritis (15.6%) and non-specific abdominal pain (9.2%) predominated. Conclusions: Medical causes are the leading cause of Acute Abdominal Pain in our locality but important and life threatening surgical causes must be recognized. Intussusception is a leading diagnosis in the infant while appendicitis is a top etiology in older children. History and physical examination remain the cornerstones in the approach to a patient with acute abdominal pain.https://www.annalsofafricansurgery.com/acute-non-traumatic-abdominal-pain- |
| spellingShingle | Nyaga E.M .M Ndungu Anangwe GC Acute Non-Traumatic Abdominal Pain in Childhood at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya The Annals of African Surgery |
| title | Acute Non-Traumatic Abdominal Pain in Childhood at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya |
| title_full | Acute Non-Traumatic Abdominal Pain in Childhood at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Acute Non-Traumatic Abdominal Pain in Childhood at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Acute Non-Traumatic Abdominal Pain in Childhood at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya |
| title_short | Acute Non-Traumatic Abdominal Pain in Childhood at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya |
| title_sort | acute non traumatic abdominal pain in childhood at kenyatta national hospital kenya |
| url | https://www.annalsofafricansurgery.com/acute-non-traumatic-abdominal-pain- |
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