Abdominal pain is an exceedingly common presentation in the emergency department. Every clinician fears missing the diagnosis of appendicitis. Children are particularly challenging since appendicitis is less common, and the history and physical may be subtle. The diagnostic use of CT is not without its risks and must be balanced against the potential risk of appendicitis in each individual patient. This article provides a comprehensive review of appendicitis in children.
This issue might be subtitled "What will they think of next?" Getting high does not always require the purchase of illegal drugs, and all substances that alter sensorium, such as nutmeg, cannot be regulated. However, the emergency physician must remain aware of the latest fads of drug abuse, and should be able to recognize the symptoms they cause.
