The Great Gut Mimicker: A case report of MIS-C and appendicitis clinical presentation overlap in a teenage patient.
BMC Pediatr
; 21(1): 258, 2021 06 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1255910
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms are common presenting features of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and can overlap with infectious or inflammatory abdominal conditions, making accurate diagnosis challenging. CASE PRESENTATION We describe the case of a 16-year-old female who presented with clinical symptoms suggestive of appendicitis and an abdominal computed tomography (CT) that revealed features concerning for appendicitis. After laparoscopic appendectomy, histopathology of the appendix demonstrated only mild serosal inflammation and was not consistent with acute appendicitis. Her overall clinical presentation was felt to be consistent with MIS-C and she subsequently improved with immunomodulatory and steroid treatment.CONCLUSIONS:
We note that MIS-C can mimic acute appendicitis. This case highlights MIS-C as a cause of abdominal imaging with features concerning for appendicitis, and MIS-C should be considered in the differential for a patient with appendicitis-like symptoms and a positive COVID-19 IgG. Lab criteria, specifically low-normal white blood cell count and thrombocytopenia, appears to be of high relevance in differing MIS-C from acute appendicitis, even when appendix radiologically is dilated.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Appendicitis
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Case report
/
Diagnostic study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
BMC Pediatr
Journal subject:
Pediatrics
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12887-021-02724-x
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