Abstract:
Background and Aim. Appendicitis is unusual in toddlers and foreign body- (FB-) induced appendicitis is rare. We present a FBinduced appendicitis in a toddler with no suggestive history of FB ingestion. Case Presentation. A 2-year-old healthy boy presented
to the emergency department with irritability for 3 days duration associated with fever of 39°
C, nausea, anorexia, and vomiting.
There was no history of foreign body ingestion. The abdomen was distended and diffusely tender. An abdominal ultrasound
(US) was suggestive of perforated appendicitis with appendicular mass formation. An abdominal X-ray showed a pin-like
foreign body in the abdomen. An emergent appendectomy was performed. Intraoperatively, a sealed small cecal perforation was
noticed. A 5 cm pin-like metallic foreign body was found to obstruct the appendicular lumen. The appendix was grossly normal
without inflammatory changes. Conclusion. FB-induced perforations or appendicitis albeit in patients with no history of FB
ingestion or infants and toddlers need a high clinical suspicion to prevent the delay in diagnosis and the subsequent complications.
