PEDIATRICS Vol. 34 No. 3 September 1964, pp. 372-377
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COPROLITHS IN CHILDREN: RECOGNITION AND SIGNIFICANCE

Hugh J. Williams M.D.1

1 The Children's Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota

1. Coproliths are sufficiently common in children and of such significance that the pediatrician should be "coprolith cognizant."

2. Eleven children with coproliths are reported including 2 under 2 years of age, the youngest recorded cases to date.

3. An abdominal roentgenogram in any child with unusual abdominal symptoms or pain is recommended since only by this step can a coprolith be detected and proper treatment implemented.

4. Immediate appendectomy is indicated in the child with abdominal pain and a demonstrable coprolith, even though the signs and symptoms are atypical for appendicitis. In 50% of such cases, rupture has already occurred.

5. Prophylactic appendectomy in the asymptomatic child in whom a coprolith is incidentally discovered is justified because of the frequent subsequent development of acute appendicitis.

Submitted on September 13, 1963
Accepted on March 16, 1964