Importance Delayed diagnosis of appendicitis is associated with worse outcomes than
timely diagnosis, but clinical features associated with diagnostic delay are uncertain, and the
extent to which delays are preventable is unclear. Objective To determine clinical features
associated with delayed diagnosis of pediatric appendicitis, assess the frequency of
preventable delay, and compare delay outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants This
case-control study included 748 children treated at 5 pediatric emergency departments in …