TABLE 2.
Characteristics of the Study Patients Diagnosed With Appendicitis, Overall and by Presence of Complications
| Characteristic | All (n = 34) | Complicated appendicitis | P value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes (n = 14) | No (n = 20) | ||||||
| n | % | n | % | n | % | ||
| Female sex | 13 | 38.2 | 5 | 35.7 | 8 | 40.0 | 0.800 |
| Age group | 0.302 | ||||||
| 3–5 yr | 5 | 14.7 | 2 | 14.3 | 3 | 15.0 | |
| 6–11 yr | 22 | 64.7 | 11 | 78.6 | 11 | 55.0 | |
| 12–17 yr | 7 | 20.6 | 1 | 7.1 | 6 | 30.0 | |
| Pre-existing medical conditions | 7 | 20.6 | 1 | 7.1 | 6 | 30.0 | 0.198 |
| Intensive care during hospital stay | 1 | 2.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5.0 | 1.000 |
| Symptoms | |||||||
| Pyrexia (≥38.0/≥100.4°C/°F) | 24 | 70.6 | 12 | 85.7 | 12 | 60.0 | 0.141 |
| Upper respiratory tract infection | 3 | 8.8 | 1 | 7.1 | 2 | 10.0 | 1.000 |
| Lower respiratory tract infection | 5 | 14.7 | 0 | 0.0 | 5 | 25.0 | 0.063 |
| Headache | 1 | 2.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5.0 | 1.000 |
| Acute abdomen | 33 | 97.1 | 14 | 100.0 | 19 | 95.0 | 1.000 |
| Chest radiograph | 0.255 | ||||||
| Negative | 3 | 8.8 | 1 | 7.1 | 2 | 10.0 | |
| Positive (pneumonia and/or ARDS) | 4 | 11.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 20.0 | |
| Not performed | 27 | 79.4 | 13 | 92.9 | 14 | 70.0 | |
| Abdominal ultrasound | 0.097 | ||||||
| Appendicitis | 4 | 11.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | 20.0 | |
| Mesenteric adenitis | 2 | 5.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 10.0 | |
| Abdominal distension | 1 | 2.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5.0 | |
| Fluid | 1 | 2.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5.0 | |
| Hepatic abscess | 1 | 2.9 | 1 | 7.1 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Not performed | 25 | 73.5 | 13 | 92.9 | 12 | 60.0 | |
| Abdominal radiograph | 0.412 | ||||||
| Distended bowel loop | 1 | 2.9 | 1 | 7.1 | 0 | 0.0 | |
| Not performed | 33 | 97.1 | 13 | 92.9 | 20 | 100.0 | |
| Microbiologic findings | 0.328 | ||||||
| Negative | 10 | 29.4 | 2 | 14.3 | 8 | 40.0 | |
| Escherichia coli | 4 | 11.8 | 2 | 14.3 | 2 | 10.0 | |
| E. coli + Enterobacter cloacae | 1 | 2.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5.0 | |
| Not detected | 19 | 55.9 | 10 | 71.4 | 9 | 45.0 | |
| White blood cells | 0.008 | ||||||
| ≤15.0 × 109/L | 14 | 41.2 | 2 | 14.3 | 12 | 60.0 | |
| >15.0 × 109/L | 20 | 58.8 | 12 | 85.7 | 8 | 40.0 | |
| C-reactive protein | 0.111 | ||||||
| <100 mg/L | 10 | 29.4 | 3 | 21.4 | 7 | 35.0 | |
| ≥100 mg/L | 6 | 17.6 | 5 | 35.7 | 1 | 5.0 | |
| Not detected | 18 | 52.9 | 6 | 42.9 | 12 | 60.0 | |
| Respiratory support | |||||||
| Oxygen support | 5 | 14.7 | 1 | 7.1 | 4 | 20.0 | 0.379 |
| Mechanical ventilation | 1 | 2.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5.0 | 1.000 |
| Administration of inotropes | 2 | 5.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 10.0 | 0.501 |
| Coinfections detected in respiratory samples(s) | 1 | 2.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5.0 | 1.000 |
| Drug administration | |||||||
| Systemic corticosteroids | 2 | 5.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 10.0 | 0.501 |
| Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) | 3 | 8.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 15.0 | 0.251 |
| MIS-C diagnosis (no cardiac/joint involvement) | 3 | 8.8 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 15.0 | 0.251 |
| Current status | 0.501 | ||||||
| All symptoms resolved | 32 | 94.1 | 14 | 100.0 | 18 | 90.0 | |
| Long-term sequelae | 2 | 5.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 10.0 | |
| Country | 0.061 | ||||||
| Peru | 11 | 32.4 | 5 | 35.7 | 6 | 30.0 | |
| Costa Rica | 14 | 41.2 | 3 | 21.4 | 11 | 55.0 | |
| Argentina | 8 | 23.5 | 6 | 42.9 | 2 | 10.0 | |
| Colombia | 1 | 2.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 5.0 | |
ARDS indicates acute respiratory distress syndrome; MIS-C, multisystem inflammatory syndrome.