Tariq Latif, Masood Riaz.
The white blood cell count is not a criteria for the diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis.
Proceeding Shaikh Zayed Postgrad Med Inst Jan ;16(1):37-9.

This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of raised white blood cell (WBC) count in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. This observational, retrospective hospital - based study was conducted at the Department of Paediatrics surgery, Shaikh Zayed Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore over a period of two years from January 2000 till December 2001. A total of 180 children age, ranging from 8-13 years (mean 10.5) who presented with clinical features suggestive of acute appendicitis were included in the study. Hematological evaluation was done in all patients to determine the WBC count. As a result of present study it was found that WBC count was raised only in 50% of the patients neutrophil count of 90%. Clinical examination was more diagnostic as compared to laboratory evaluation. In conclusion raised WBC is not an essential laboratory investigation for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

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