A Young Boy with Fever and Grunting

A 16-month-old boy presented with a temperature of 99°Fahrenheit (F) (down from 102°F at home after antipyretics), grunting, and tachypnea. On examination, he was tachycardic, tachypneic, and ill-appearing with abdominal distention and diffuse tenderness. A plain film abdominal radiograph showed mod...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical practice and cases in emergency medicine 2021-02, Vol.5 (1), p.125-126
Main Authors: Shapiro, Daniel J, Neal, Jeffrey T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Appendicitis
Clinical medicine
Diverticulitis
Emergency medical care
Fever
Images in Emergency Medicine
Laparoscopy
Medicine
Patients
Pediatrics
Peritonitis
Respiratory diseases
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Description
Summary:A 16-month-old boy presented with a temperature of 99°Fahrenheit (F) (down from 102°F at home after antipyretics), grunting, and tachypnea. On examination, he was tachycardic, tachypneic, and ill-appearing with abdominal distention and diffuse tenderness. A plain film abdominal radiograph showed moderate free air, and emergent laparoscopy revealed perforated Meckel's diverticulitis with peritonitis. Although tachypnea and grunting in preverbal or nonverbal patients are often considered to be signs of respiratory illness, these findings may reflect intra-abdominal emergencies. Perforated Meckel's diverticulitis is an important differential consideration in patients with pneumoperitoneum.
ISSN:2474-252X
2474-252X
DOI:10.5811/cpcem.2020.11.49721