Acute Appendicitis in Young Children: A Persistent Diagnostic Challenge for Clinicians.

Acute appendicitis is a grave and life-threatening condition in children, accounting for one to two cases per 10,000 in children less than four years' old. Prompt diagnosis and management are imperative to prevent serious complications, such as abscess formation, perforation, bowel obstruction, peritonitis, and sepsis. In young children, however, the diagnosis of this condition is challenging.

How an Elevated Creatinine Level Can Deter the Diagnosis of Acute Aortic Dissection.

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) classically manifests with sudden, severe chest pain radiating to the back or abdomen, often described as ripping or tearing sensation. Considering its abrupt onset, the diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion prompting immediate imaging using computed tomography (CT) with contrast. However, the use of contrast is a relative contraindication in the patients with renal compromise and acute care physicians are often deterred from contrast use in these patients.