ACUTE APPENDICITIS IN THE EXANTHEMS

Abdominal pain and vomiting are frequent symptoms of the onset of the exanthems. The attention of the observer is at first focused on the abdomen but is diverted when the exanthematous nature of the illness becomes apparent. Fortunately, the early abdominal symptoms of these diseases usually subside without local sequelae. Abdominal pain may recur, or it may set in for the first time during the period of eruption or shortly afterward. Like the prodromal pain, the pain with the onset of the rash is regarded lightly, because usually no serious complication occurs. It is our purpose to emphasize that there are exceptional cases in which prompt surgical intervention is required. In the presence of one of the exanthems, such as scarlet fever, the evaluation of abdominal symptoms becomes more difficult, but delay in the recognition of an emergency requiring surgical intervention may be avoided if the possibility of such an