Appendicitis in pre-schoolers

[BettySpaghetti]

Is it quite rare for this age group to have appendicitis?

I've taken DS (3.5) to the doctors today as hes had bad stomach pains over the last 36hrs. Hes also got a temp. This has come at the end of 3 wks of general cough/cold etc.

GP has given AB's as she thinks its all probably caused by infection from cold/cough etc and his glands being up all over his body.

However she did mention appendicitis as that starts with pain in the area he has it, temperature etc so to keep an eye on it and go back/get advice if pain gets worse.

I had my appendix removed when I was about 11 and know of others who had theirs removed as children but never as young as DS. Anyone with any experience?

TIA

as far as I know they can diagnose it with a blood test to check for white blood count, not an easy thing to diagnose, I had mine out with an emergency op at age 9, it had already burst by then, I remember being thirsty and the pain so bad I couldn't sleep.

Thanks spacepuppy -I was wondering how they diagnosed it with little ones.

When you're older (like when you and I had appendicitis at ages 9 and 11)you can explain what a pain feels like, that its worse than you've ever experienced before etc but its different for a 3 yo.

Common in lo's to have glands up in tummy - condition call mesenteric adenitis. Appendicitis tends to start central and move to R side low down.
keep an eye on him, if not improving or worsening , best to go back

Thanks littleboo -now I know what its called I've been able to look it up and in all cases they mention how similar the symptoms are to appendicitis so to keep an eye open for it not improving.

Interestingly enough Mumsnet was high up on the google list with a thread from only a week or so ago!

try www.patient.uk
its a really good informative site

Hope it's not appendicitis, I know I walked hanging forward and holding onto my stomach (my mom thought I was trying to get out of a dentist appointment) I can also remember the doctor pushed down on my stomach and asked if it was worse when he hold still while pushing down or if it hurt more when he pulled away quickly. I can remember it was the latter which apparently was an indication that the inflammation has spread and 2 hours later I was in surgery!