Acute appendicitis in children - review focused on diagnostics and treatment

Introduction and ObjectiveAppendicitis is one of the most common surgical conditions in both children and adults.There are numerous diagnostic tools available, as well as a variety of treatment options,including both pharmacological and surgical methods. This summary focuses on the currentknowledge regarding the disease, its diagnosis and treatment.Review MethodsA literature review was conducted using the PubMed database to gather information onappendicitis. The main search term used was "appendicitis," with the review specificallyconcentrating on the diagnosis and treatment of the condition.Description of the State of KnowledgeDiagnosing appendicitis involves taking a medical history, performing a physicalexamination, conducting laboratory tests, and using imaging, which also help assess theseverity of the condition. Treatment options range from antibiotic therapy to open surgery andlaparoscopic appendectomy.ConclusionsThe analysis of the review suggests that both diagnosis and treatment depend on variousfactors, with the patient's clinical presentation and the surgeon's experience being among themost important. Treatment approaches are continually evolving, such as with thedevelopment of different laparoscopic techniques, including one-incision laparoscopicappendectomy in addition to the conventional three-incision method. However, moretraditional treatments, like antibiotic therapy and open appendectomy, remain in use.Key words: appendicitis; children; diagnostics; treatment; appendectomy