Pediatric Abdominal Pain: Identifying Fishbone-Induced Appendicitis
Authors:
Nawaf Abdullah Alghamdi,
Ahmad Basehi,
Mohammad Alnamshan,
Fawaz Alzahrani,
Abdullatif Almalki
Background: Appendicitis is a common, but perplexing medical mystery. It occurs unexpectedly and requires rapid medical intervention. Pediatric fishbone-induced appendicitis is a rare but serious condition that is often misdiagnosed because of its nonspecific symptoms. Fish bones are often observed in the gastrointestinal tract during the treatment of such patients. However, in rare cases, the fishbone enters the appendix and causes appendicitis. Case Report: We report the case of a 5-year-old boy who experienced appendicitis. The patient was admitted to the hospital with severe abdominal pain accompanied by fever, nausea, and vomiting. The pain was identified as fishbone-induced appendicitis. The patient underwent a successful laparoscopic appendectomy without signs of perforation. Conclusion: Identifying fishbone-induced appendicitis in pediatric patients can be challenging, as most parents fail to recall if their child consumed fish. This case underscores the need for detailed clinical assessment to uncover uncommon causes of appendicitis. Thorough examinations should be conducted to evaluate the possibility of intestinal perforation caused by foreign objects, such as fishbones, and educate parents to avoid serving fish with bones to their children.
Keywords: Appendicitis, fishbone, laparoscopic appendectomy, intestinal perforation, children, pediatric.
Authors
Nawaf Abdullah Alghamdi
Pediatric Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Google Scholor Articles
Pubmed Articles
Ahmad Basehi
Pediatric Emergency Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Google Scholor Articles
Pubmed Articles
Mohammad Alnamshan
Pediatric Surgery Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Google Scholor Articles
Pubmed Articles
Fawaz Alzahrani
Pediatric Emergency Department, King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Google Scholor Articles
Pubmed Articles
Correspondence to:
Abdullatif Almalki ing Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia almalkiab6@mngha.med.sa
Publication history:
Received 26 Nov 2024
Revised 22 Dec 2024
Accepted 27 Dec 2024
Published online 30 Jan 2025
Alghamdi NA, Basehi A, Alnamshan M, Alzahrani F, Almalki A. Pediatric Abdominal Pain: Identifying Fishbone-Induced Appendicitis. SJEMed. Online First: 30 Jan, 2025. doi:
10.24911/SJEMed.72-1732407425
Alghamdi NA, Basehi A, Alnamshan M, Alzahrani F, Almalki A. Pediatric Abdominal Pain: Identifying Fishbone-Induced Appendicitis. https://sjemed.com/?mno=229980 [Access: June 07, 2025]. doi:
10.24911/SJEMed.72-1732407425
Alghamdi NA, Basehi A, Alnamshan M, Alzahrani F, Almalki A. Pediatric Abdominal Pain: Identifying Fishbone-Induced Appendicitis. SJEMed. Online First: 30 Jan, 2025. doi:
10.24911/SJEMed.72-1732407425
Alghamdi NA, Basehi A, Alnamshan M, Alzahrani F, Almalki A. Pediatric Abdominal Pain: Identifying Fishbone-Induced Appendicitis. SJEMed, [cited June 07, 2025]; Online First: 30 Jan, 2025. doi:
10.24911/SJEMed.72-1732407425
Alghamdi, N. A., Basehi, . A., Alnamshan, . M., Alzahrani, . F. & Almalki, . A. (2025) Pediatric Abdominal Pain: Identifying Fishbone-Induced Appendicitis. SJEMed, Online First: 30 Jan, 2025. doi:
10.24911/SJEMed.72-1732407425
Alghamdi, Nawaf Abdullah, Ahmad Basehi, Mohammad Alnamshan, Fawaz Alzahrani, and Abdullatif Almalki. 2025. Pediatric Abdominal Pain: Identifying Fishbone-Induced Appendicitis. Saudi Journal of Emergency Medicine, Online First: 30 Jan, 2025. doi:
10.24911/SJEMed.72-1732407425
Alghamdi, Nawaf Abdullah, Ahmad Basehi, Mohammad Alnamshan, Fawaz Alzahrani, and Abdullatif Almalki. "Pediatric Abdominal Pain: Identifying Fishbone-Induced Appendicitis." Saudi Journal of Emergency Medicine Online First: 30 Jan, 2025. doi:
10.24911/SJEMed.72-1732407425
Alghamdi, Nawaf Abdullah, Ahmad Basehi, Mohammad Alnamshan, Fawaz Alzahrani, and Abdullatif Almalki. "Pediatric Abdominal Pain: Identifying Fishbone-Induced Appendicitis." Saudi Journal of Emergency Medicine Online First: 30 Jan, 2025. Web. 07 Jun 2025 doi:
10.24911/SJEMed.72-1732407425
Alghamdi, N. A., Basehi, . A., Alnamshan, . M., Alzahrani, . F. & Almalki, . A. (2025) Pediatric Abdominal Pain: Identifying Fishbone-Induced Appendicitis. Saudi Journal of Emergency Medicine, Online First: 30 Jan, 2025. doi:
10.24911/SJEMed.72-1732407425