19/05/2026
“Even the smallest abdomen can hide a big surgical emergency.”
A 2-year-old child was brought to the Emergency Department at Pt. JLNGMC Chamba with severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and signs of sepsis. Evaluation revealed a perforated appendicitis — a rare but life-threatening surgical emergency at this age.
Without wasting crucial time, An emergency appendectomy was successfully performed, and the postoperative recovery remained uneventful.
Although uncommon in toddlers, appendicitis in a 2-year-old is clinically important because:-
1. Diagnosis is often delayed due to nonspecific symptoms.
2. Children cannot localize pain well.
3. It has a very high perforation rate:
Often 70–90% perforated at presentation in children under 3 years.
“Appendicitis has no age limit.”