Child writhing in pain after appendicitis misdiagnosis
An eight-year-old boy from Berezovsky was brought to Yekaterinburg. For almost a week, appendicitis could not be detected in the child — now the schoolboy is in the intensive care unit of the ninth children«s hospital in serious condition.
The child»s mother, Nina, contacted the E1.RU editorial office. She said that her son fell ill on Saturday, November 15 — he had a stomach ache, fever, and diarrhea started. At first, the mother thought it was rotavirus, but the next day the son did not get better.
On November 16, Nina went with her son to the children«s clinic in Berezovsky at Gagarin Street, 6 for an appointment with the local doctor.
«The temperature became even higher than on the weekend. We came for the appointment, I suggested: maybe it»s appendicitis? The pediatrician said: “No, most likely, you have some kind of intestinal infection,”» Nina told E1.RU. — «And she prescribed us medications, sent us home until Wednesday. Moreover, she didn«t even feel the child»s abdomen, didn«t examine him properly, only listened to his lungs.»
Appendicitis is inflammation of the vermiform appendix of the cecum (appendix).
You Have an Intestinal Infection
At home, the boy stopped eating, and he was getting worse. On Wednesday, November 19, Nina and her son came for an appointment, the pediatrician gave them a referral for hospitalization in the infectious diseases department of the hospital at Berezovskaya Hospital.
«We went home, packed our things, and came to the hospital. In the emergency room, a doctor examined us too. I say again: “Maybe it«s appendicitis?” She says: “No, it doesn»t hurt where it should for appendicitis, it«s some kind of intestinal infection,”» continued Nina, the boy»s mother.
After receiving blood tests, the doctors said that the child had a bacterial infection and prescribed antibiotics. On the morning of November 20, the boy became very ill.
«The child was just writhing all over, screaming. His stomach hurt very badly, I panicked, called a doctor, he looked, — continued Nina. — He presses on the lower abdomen. The child says: “It hurts.” The doctor in response: “Probably his bladder hurts.”»
At the hospital, they called an ambulance, and the child was transported to the ninth children«s hospital in Yekaterinburg. The boy underwent surgery and had his appendix removed, but peritonitis had already begun to develop in his body.
Peritonitis is inflammation of the peritoneum — the membrane lining the abdominal cavity from the inside. It is a serious condition caused by bacterial infection or irritating substances, which requires emergency medical care.
Among the symptoms are severe abdominal pain, high fever, and vomiting.
«The child went through three doctors, and not one listened to me, — says Nina. — Why should we have to beg to be examined extra somewhere in Berezovsky?»
The Ministry of Health of Sverdlovsk Oblast responded to E1.RU that they will look into this situation in any case. The child«s mother was recommended to write a written appeal to the department, after which they will conduct an inspection and respond to all her complaints.
Not long ago, a 12-year-old boy from Sukhoi Log found himself in a similar situation. For two weeks, the correct diagnosis could not be made for the child. On the way from the hospital in Sukhoi Log to Yekaterinburg, the family was helped by traffic police inspectors — they helped the parents bypass a traffic jam.
