Role of Plain Abdominal X-Ray in the Differntial Diagnosis of Common Acute Abdominal Conditions in Children at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: The plain abdominal x-ray is one of the commonly requested investigations in children emergency room, paediatric surgical ward and neonatal wards. short interval required to carry out this investigative procedure obtain results makes it first imaging modality used unravel different causes acute conditions children. safety attractive for use practice as part routine work-up undifferentiated also diagnose specific abdomen Setting: Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State. Objectives: Evaluation role diagnosing common Materials method: Patients admitted wards, children’s who had their diagnostic were included study. They studied prospectively between March 2011 April 2021. Results: Three Hundred Ninety-nine patients x-rays studied. Males 240 while females 159, a male female ratio 1.5:1. aged 1 day 16 years. Differential diagnoses made with intestinal obstruction 298, perforated viscus 69 patients, intra-abdominal masses 13 location foreign body 14. Intestinal cases which played diagnosis management following: intussusception 66, sepsis 60, malrotation 48, atresia 42, anorectal malformation 32, hirschsprung’s disease 30 cases, pyloric stenosis 24, obstructed hernia 22, post-operative adhesions helminthiasis 12. Perforated accounted indications. Out these indications, gut 19, typhoid ileitis was responsible perforation blunt trauma 8, strangulated 11 7, ceacal hirschsprugs 6 colonic necrotizing enterocolitis 5 cases. Conclusion: Plain remains play differential conditions.