Appendicitis, the inflammation of appendix, is a frequent and urgent surgical condition caused by scraps that don't pass to colon but instead end up in the "blind section".
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Appendix is a worm-like tiny tube that begins on the bottom of the caecum. It can be long from 2 to 30 centimetres and with diameter of 0.3 to 1 centimetre. While obstruction is the cause for 1/3 to 1/4 of all appendicitis cases, some new researches show that appendicitis ulcer is the first cause. Extended lymph tissue caused by virus infection (mononucleosis, easels), parasites and tumours can also close the appendix.
Appendix inflammation can be acute or chronic. Inflammation can appease if appendicitis is not completely obstructed, but after recovery it appears again. The hard part in diagnosing appendicitis is the fact that many other illnesses have similar symptoms as appendix inflammation. To make correct diagnose your description as a patient will help doctor to eliminate other possibilities.
Typical order of symptoms (pain around navel, nausea, vomiting and pain relocation in lower right abdomen) appears in 50 percent of patients. Appendix can have different positions and variations, and because of the fact that patient's ages and level of inflammation affect symptoms, those symptoms may vary wildly from patient to patient. But, pain relocation is the most sensitive mark for diagnose.
Usually, the first symptom is the pain in the abdomen, settled in the area around navel. It appears because of convulsions and expansion of the appendix. Patient can feel exceeded need for going on toilette and for realising gases (that don't decrease the difficulties). The patient suffers from nausea and vomiting and after 4-6 hours the pain is localized in the lower right part of the abdomen where appendix is the most usually situated. The patients can suffer from loss of appetite and constipation, and they may have diarrhea caused by the irritation of the small intestine. If appendix bursts the patient may feel short relief. Soon after that the pain becomes stronger because of peritoneum inflammation, it spreads on the whole abdomen which is hard if palpated.
Appendix inflammation in children is wrongly diagnosed in 25 to 30 percent of cases and that number rise as the child is younger. In children with wrong diagnosis, the most often conditions are vomiting before the attack of the pain, diarrhea, constipation, striving urination, infection of upper respiratory system, lethargy and irritability. Because of child's insufficiently developed immunological system the illness progresses very fast and infection cannot be localized. Acute appendicitis can appear along with other paediatric illnesses so you can always should have that in mind.
Treatment of appendicitis is surgical procedure which must be done as soon as possible. If diagnosis is questionable, the patient should not take antibiotics because they could mask the burst of the appendix.
There are few physical methods that doctors practice to check patient's condition. You can memorise a few to make a test before you get to doctor's ordination.
When palpated the right lower part of abdomen is painfully sensitive. By pressing palm on the left bottom part of the abdomen, the pain appears in the right lower part of the abdomen. By releasing the pressure in the bottom right part of abdomen, on that spot stronger pain appears. If you palpitate abdomen the most severe pain will appear in appendix area. Try to cough - the pain will appear in the lower right part of the abdomen. That area will also be painful during gentle traction on the right spermatic cord.
The lower right quadrant of the abdomen will be painful during internal rotation of the bended right hip. The pain will also appear in that place during intense span of the right hip. On palpation, the abdomen wall is hard like a board, first above the appendix and after that the whole abdomen wall is painful.
Absence of those signs should not be the reason to stop suspect on appendix inflammation. It is very important if you have even little doubts about appendicitis to ask for medical help in the shortest possible time. If the surgery is made on time, the prognosis is excellent. ■
Usually, the first symptom is the pain in the abdomen, settled in the area around navel. It appears because of convulsions and expansion of the appendix. Patient can feel exceeded need for going on toilette and for realising gases (that don't decrease the difficulties). The patient suffers from nausea and vomiting and after 4-6 hours the pain is localized in the lower right part of the abdomen where appendix is the most usually situated. The patients can suffer from loss of appetite and constipation, and they may have diarrhea caused by the irritation of the small intestine. If appendix bursts the patient may feel short relief. Soon after that the pain becomes stronger because of peritoneum inflammation, it spreads on the whole abdomen which is hard if palpated.