There are many illnesses which may mimic the symptoms and signs of an "acute abdomen" wherein surgical intervention would be contraindicated. The purpose of this paper is to describe the occasional pseudosurgical nature of acute enteroviral infection. Three children were admitted to Harbor General Hospital during the summer of 1967 with the diagnosis of an acute abdomen. Echovirus serotypes 1 and 14 were isolated from these children as circumstantial support for the causal relationship between enteroviruses and solitary acute abdominal pain.
Report of Cases
Case 1.—A 2¾-year-old white boy was hospitalized on Aug 11, 1967, because of generalized abdominal pain, maximal in the right lower quadrant, fever, and anorexia. The patient had similar signs and symptoms for two days prior to admission. His mother observed that the child preferred to lie on his right side with his knees flexed upon his abdomen. There was no history of diarrhea, vomiting, cough,