All issues > Volume 46(11); 2003

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2003;46(11):1095-1100. Published online November 15, 2003.

A Clinical Study of Acute Colonic Diverticulitis in Children

Jae Hoon JH Sim¹, Keum Ho KH Song¹, Yun Jung YJ Sim¹, Do Jun DJ Cho¹, Dug Ha DH Kim¹, Ki Sik KS Min¹, Ki Yang KY Yoo¹, Hae Ran HR Lee¹, Kwan Seop KS Lee²

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chunchon, Korea
²Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chunchon, Korea

Correspondence Ki Sik KS Min ,Email: ksmin@hallym.or.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: Children with acute colonic diverticulitis(ACD), can be misdiagnosed with acute appendicitis.
Methods
: We reviewed 15 cases of ACD during five years, from January 1998 to June 2002 retrospectively.
Results
: Most patients(80%) with ACD in children presented with right lower quadrant pain. The primary diagnosis on admission was mostly acute appendicitis(87%), and all ACD in children occurred in the right colon. Fourteen patients were managed by conservative treatment including antibiotics. A follow-up study was performed in 15 patients. There were symptomatic recurrences in two patients, but no significant complication was noted. The frequency of ACD was 11.7 per 1000 acute appendicitis.
Conclusion
: ACD in children can mostly be cured by conservative treatment. It is prudent to choose the management through the diagnostic work up, including abdominal sonography and computed tomography, because there was no significant difference of clinical findings between ACD and acute appendicitis.

Keywords :Diverticulitis, Colon, Appendicitis, Child