Is the covid-19 pandemic causing delays in the diagnosis of appendicitis in children?

ABSTRACT

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether there is an increase in the number of complicated appendicitis during pandemic period. Material and Methods: Data of patients were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into two-groups as pre-pandemic and pandemic. Age, gender, duration after the onset of complaints until visiting hospital, WBC count, days after presentation to hospital until surgery, surgical method, whether the appendix was complicated, duration of hospitalization, whether any complications developed, and results of PCR tests were evaluated. The data of the groups were compared and it was investigated whether there was any difference between them. Statistical analysis was done with the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 21. P 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Appendectomy was performed in 327 patients during pandemic and in 295 during pre-pandemic period. Although the ratio of complicated appendicitis increased during pandemic compared to pre-pandemic period (47.1% versus 40.7%), there was no difference between groups. However, duration between onset of symptoms and arrival at hospital (p=0.003), time elapsed before surgery (p=0.021), length-of-stay in hospital (p=0.009), and developed complications (p=0.01) were higher in pandemic group. Conclusion: Comparing prepandemic, although there was no statistically significant difference during the pandemic period, there was an increase in complicated appendicitis and related complications. It was attributed to late arrival at hospitals due to curfews, parental fear of disease transmission, and prolonged duration of screening tests in the emergency departments.