Does non-perforated appendicitis need antibiotic cover in children?

Abstract EN

This is a Prospective study to evaluate the effects of whether to use antibiotics or not in the treatment of non-perforated acute appendicitis in children.

One hundred & two children with acute appendicitis were operated upon by emergency open appendicectomy in AL-Sadir Teaching Hospital, Basrah Child & Maternity hospital and AL-shefa'a General Hospital.

In thirty six patients, the appendix was perforated or gangrenous and was excluded from the study.

Regarding the remaining 66 patients, 50 patients received antibiotics whether pre-operatively or post-operatively and 16 patients did not receive antibiotics.

Both groups were followed postoperatively for development of: fever, wound infection and intra-abdominal abscess for 3 weeks.

Post operative fever was observed in 11(22%) of those who received antibiotics compared to only 3(18.75%) of those who did not receive antibiotics.

One (2%) of those who received antibiotics compared to zero of those who did not receive antibiotics developed wound infection.

None of either groups developed intra-abdominal abscess.

Thirty four (68%) of those who received antibiotics and 12(75%) of those who did not receive antibiotics went home within 3 days of admission.

where is 16(32%) of those who received antibiotics and 4(25%) of those who did not receive antibiotics stayed in the hospital for a period of 4 days.

In conclusion, No administration of antimicrobials to children with non-perforated acute appendicitis did not in anyway increases morbidity but in contrary it reduced hospital cost by way of less medication and shorter hospital stay.

Add to this the less inconvenience to the family.