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Typhoid perforation in children below 5 years: a 10-year review of cases managed and outcome

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Abstract

Introduction

Typhoid perforation is still prevalent in children in developing countries. Hence, the need for a review of the morbidity and mortality from typhoid perforation in children from poor countries.

Aim

We review the clinical features, morbidity, and mortality of typhoid perforation in children aged ≤ 5 years in a developing country.

Methods

A retrospective 10-year study of children aged ≤ 5 years with typhoid perforation in two tertiary hospitals in northeastern Nigeria. Data regarding clinical presentation, investigations, intra-operative findings, treatment, and outcome were reviewed.

Results

Out of 221 children aged ≤ 15 years with typhoid perforation, 45 (20.4%) were aged ≤ 5 years. Fever and abdominal distension were present in all 45 (100.0%), followed by abdominal pain 33 (73.3%), constipation 19 (42.2%), diarrhoea and vomiting 18 (40.0%) and vomiting 13 (28.8%). All patients presented in second week of infection. Plain abdominal radiograph showed pneumoperitoneum suggestive of bowel perforation in 39 (86.7%) patients. Forty-one (91.1%) patients had ileal perforations with various severities of peritonitis. Out of which, 30 (73.2%) were single and 11 (26.8%) were multiple perforations. Two (4.4%) patients had peritonitis without bowel perforation, while 2 (4.4%) others had caecal, gall bladder perforations, respectively. Serious post-operative wound complications occurred in patients with severe peritonitis, multiple perforations, prolonged pre-operative resuscitation, and operation beyond 2 h. Overall, mortality rate was about 26.7% mainly in patients who had multiple perforations, severe peritonitis, prolonged pre-operative resuscitation, and operation time more than 2 h.

Conclusion

Multiple perforations, severe peritonitis, and operation time more than 2 h are poor post-operative factors that were associated with poor post-operative outcome in our patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Paediatric Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

    Samuel Wabada & Babagana Usman

  2. Federal Medical Center Yola, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

    Adewale O. Oyinloye, Auwal Mohammed Abubakar & Rikin Uruku Christopher

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  1. Samuel Wabada
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  2. Adewale O. Oyinloye
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  3. Babagana Usman
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  4. Auwal Mohammed Abubakar
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  5. Rikin Uruku Christopher
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Correspondence to Samuel Wabada.

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Wabada, S., Oyinloye, A.O., Usman, B. et al. Typhoid perforation in children below 5 years: a 10-year review of cases managed and outcome. Pediatr Surg Int 38, 143–148 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-021-05010-0

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