Abdominal presentations in patients with spinal–epidural abscess (SEA) are not uncommon.
However, it needs to be continually emphasized that the atypical presentations of
these diseases could delay the timely diagnosis and consequently prompt management,
which threatens spinal cord, leading to potential to paralysis or even death. We report
a case of a young girl who presented with abdominal pain and fever. The diagnosis
of SEA was unfortunately so delayed that the patient did not show any functional recovery
postoperatively. This report aims to highlight the importance of high level of clinical
suspicion to recognize an atypical presentation of the SEA. Moreover, the fully detailed
history-taking and physical examination are of paramount importance. Spinal underlying
pathologies should always be considered as a cause of abdominal pain, especially in
children.
Key-words:
Abdominal pain - delayed diagnosis - epidural abscess - exploratory laparotomy - misdiagnosis
