Child health · UKMLA & AKT

Appendicitis

A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise appendicitis — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.

Key high-yield points

  • Most common cause of emergency abdominal surgery in children in the UK
  • Peak incidence 10-19 years; slightly more common in males
  • Classic presentation present in <50% of children - diagnosis is genuinely difficult
  • Under 5s: perforation rate ~80% - underdeveloped omentum cannot contain infection, appendix wall thinner → rapid progression

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