Acute Abdomen and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children with COVID-19: A Case Report and Review of Pathophysiology, Gastrointestinal Symptoms and Abdominal Radiology

Review Data

Q: Is the topic relevant to the journal area of interest? Is it contemporary and interesting for

researchers?

A: Good

Comments: The title has been slightly modified.

Abstract & Keywords

Q: Are all required components included in the abstract? Are the keywords appropriately chosen?

A: Good

Goal

Q: Is the goal explicitly stated in the Introduction? Is its formulation clear and unambiguous?

A: Good

Structure

Q: Is the paper's structure coherent? Is it in coherence with the goal of the paper?

A: Good

Tools and Methods

Q: Are methods the author uses adequate and well used?

A: Good

Discussion & Conclusion

Q: Is it related to the results presented before? Do you consider them as coherent?

A: Good

Comments: The Discussion illustrates the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in the reported patient. This further highlights how the patient manifested the disease and resulted in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), providing relevant literature. The Discussion also provides information on the pathophysiology, gastrointestinal symptoms, and abdominal imaging of COVID-19 in children. Lastly, it states that since acute abdomen can be the clinical presentation of MIS-C, proper diagnosis necessary even in the absence of respiratory symptoms or radiologic chest signs associated with COVID-19.

Literature

Q: Does the author utilize relevant literature?

A: Good

Author's knowledge

Q: What is the level of the author’s knowledge? Does the author utilize all recent contributions relevant to the topic?

A: Good

Length

Q: Is the length of the paper adequate to the significance of the topic? Do you suggest shortening the paper without losing its value?

A: Good

Figures & Tables

Q: Does the author use them suitably? Are legend and notations clear?

A: Good

Writing style

Q: Is it clear and understandable?

A: Good

Comments: There are few errors found in the manuscript, which are as follows:

·       Under Introduction, 2^nd paragraph, 1^st sentence “prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms is also similar” must be “prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms are also similar”.

·       In the 4^th paragraph of Case Presentation, “tocilizumab” was misspelled as “tozilizumab”.

Further comments on the paper

Comments: This case reports a 10-year-old girl who presents COVID-19 in the form of an acute abdomen due to severe sigmoiditis who developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome accompanied by shock. The manuscript further discusses the treatment procedure and the recovery of the patients. It also states that a high index suspicion is required for diagnosing COVID-19 in the event of any pediatric acute abdomen or even without in the absence of respiratory symptoms or radiologic chest signs.

Q: Would you recommend this manuscript for further publication?

A: Yes - Suitable to be published

If you have any questions and clarifications you can write to the journal.

Thanks,
Science Repository Team