A Rare Case of Pneumococcal Appendicitis in a Child

• Published in: Case reports in pediatrics Vol. 2022; pp. 9262149 - 3
• Main Authors: Chikhaoui, Amar, Nzoyikorera, Néhémie, El Mouadden, Mehdi, Al Zemmouri, Mounia, Zerouali, Khalid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Hindawi 07-02-2022; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Abdomen; Antibiotics; Appendectomy; Appendicitis; Case Report; Case reports; Children & youth; Emergency medical care; Immunization; Infectious diseases; Laboratories; Meningitis; Patients; Pediatrics; Peritonitis; Pneumonia; Streptococcus infections; Vaccines
• ISSN: 2090-6803; 2090-6811
• DOI: 10.1155/2022/9262149

Appendicitis is the most common cause for abdominal surgery in children. It is usually caused by Escherichia coli and Streptococcus species and is generally polymicrobial. However, Streptococcus pneumoniae is a rare cause of appendicitis. We report a rare case of pneumococcal appendicitis in a 7-year-old child with no underlying conditions, in association with E. coli and group F β-hemolytic Streptococcus. The isolated pneumococcal strain was sensible to all tested antibiotics. The patient had a full recovery after surgery and antibiotics. This case emphasizes that S. pneumoniae can cause a variety of unusual infections like appendicitis, in patients with or without underlying conditions. Thus, even though being a rare entity, physicians should always be aware of S. pneumoniae as a possible causative agent.