Appendicitis in Infants: Why Preterm Birth Matters

Infants born prematurely could be at a higher risk of developing appendicitis within their first year of life, according to a recent study published in the Pediatrics journal.

Researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University in China examined data from 106 infants (average age: 2.4 months) who were hospitalized with appendicitis between 2007 and 2023. For comparison, they matched each of these cases with 10 healthy infants of the same age, resulting in a control group of 1,060 infants.

The goal was to find out whether being born preterm — before 37 weeks of pregnancy — is linked to an increased chance of developing appendicitis during infancy.

What the Study Found:

Infants born prematurely were three times more likely to develop appendicitis in the first year of life compared to those born full-term.
The risk was higher for both newborns (up to 28 days old) and older infants (up to 1 year).
Other risk factors included:
Being male
Being fed only formula milk
Having low weight for age

While the condition is rare, nearly three out of four infants with appendicitis had already developed a serious complication known as appendiceal perforation by the time they were diagnosed. However, premature birth itself was not directly linked to this complication.

Appendicitis in infants is very rare and difficult to diagnose because the symptoms — such as fever, vomiting, or fussiness — are non-specific. This can lead to delayed diagnosis and complications.

This study highlights that a history of preterm birth may help doctors consider appendicitis earlier when evaluating unwell infants, potentially leading to quicker diagnosis and better outcomes.

Early-life health challenges like preterm birth can have lasting effects. This research adds to growing evidence that premature babies need close health monitoring, not only in the neonatal period but well into infancy. It also reinforces the need for greater awareness among parents and healthcare providers about rare but serious conditions that may affect this vulnerable group.

References

1. Liu Y, et al. Preterm birth and infantile appendicitis. Pediatrics. 2023 Dec 1;152(6):e2023063815. doi: 10.1542/peds.2023-063815.

2. Ross Weldon. Available at: https://www.healio.com/news/pediatrics/20231206/appendicitis-risk-higher-for-preterm-infants-in-first-year-of-life. Dated Dec. 6, 2023. Accessed on Dec. 12, 2023

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