Feeling pain in the lower right corner of the abdomen, we often think: what if the appendix? What is appendicitis, many know, so when pain appears in the area of its location, people immediately begin to wind up and make false diagnoses. To a large extent, our fears are not confirmed, such pain can be an echo of the usual indigestion. It may be a signal of a gastric infection. But it can be appendicitis. Therefore, it is important to know its main symptoms and what causes them. But let's get it in order.
Appendix: what is it?
This is the name of the vermiform appendix of the rectum. Not all mammals have such an education, but cats, for example, do not have it, but it is present in humans, monkeys, and rabbits. It performs protective functions, is part of the immune system, in particular, restores the intestinal microflora.
Appendix is a kind of "nursery" for the beneficial bacteria involved in digestion. Its role for the intestine is similar to that of the tonsils for the respiratory system. But for people who have experienced appendectomy, in other words, removal of the appendix, it is more difficult to restore the microflora after infection with diseases than those who have this organ.
Let's now figure out where the appendix is located in a person. The photo below will provide an opportunity to understand its approximate location and localization of pain in case of inflammation.
Location of the appendix
Surely you were wondering: which side of the appendix? It is located in the right iliac region, smoothly descending to the small pelvis. There are cases when it is located behind the cecum and reaches the liver with its upper part. The length of the process ranges from half a centimeter to 23 cm, the standard one is about 7-8 cm, the width does not exceed one centimeter. So, now you know which side the appendix is located on.
Appendicitis and its varieties
We figured out the answer to the question, where is the appendix. What is appendicitis is easy to guess - this is an inflammation of this organ. An interesting fact is that if a person has a right-sided heart, then the appendix will be in the lower left abdomen.
Now we learn about appendicitis in humans. Photos and symptoms will help you figure out what the disease is and how to recognize it.
Appendicitis occurs when the process of the cecum becomes inflamed and filled with pus.
- Acute appendicitis is the most common form that occurs in adults and children. Inflammation and after it the pain begins suddenly.
- Chronic appendicitis. Symptoms in adult men and women can occur quite rarely, but for children it is not at all characteristic. The disease has the same clinical picture, but the manifestation of inflammation is blurred over time.
Why is the appendix inflamed? What is happening to him?
There is no definite answer, since there is no scientific theory that thoroughly explains the causes of appendicitis. There are hypotheses that this is due to the activity of the microflora that inhabits it, it may arise due to overeating, when the digestive system is loaded with a large amount of protein food. The reason may even be an inactive lifestyle and sedentary work.
Symptoms of Appendicitis
Here we describe in detail the main and secondary signs of this ailment. Please, if you find at least one of them at home, call an ambulance right away!
- Key symptoms Abdominal pain occurs in the navel area and gradually moves to the lower right side of the abdominal region. When you click on the stomach, especially in these areas, you have a persistent painful sensation. Do not pull to call an ambulance if your stomach is hard or swollen to the touch. Under normal conditions, the tissue in this area is soft, malleable when pressed. It hurts you to stand and walk. You cannot move without feeling constant pain, it is easier for you if you lie curled up. A characteristic sign of appendicitis is soreness with a sharp decrease in pressure on the stomach.
- Additional signs of the disease. These signs are not necessarily inherent in appendicitis, but their presence speaks of any other serious disease that immediately requires the intervention of doctors:
- fever, body temperature above 38 ° C;
- constipation combined with periodic vomiting;
- nausea;
- diarrhea;
- painful urge to empty the intestines, often false;
- pain in the back.
Children's appendicitis
Symptoms in adult men and women we have identified. Children, especially small ones, cannot always independently describe what happens to their body. So if you notice such manifestations in the baby, sound the alarm:
- The child cannot sleep at night from pain, he is restless.
- Sometimes he can cry out, lie down in the fetal position or squat down.
- Toddler points to his stomach.
- Nausea and vomiting, in young children is especially frequent.
- Lack of appetite.
- Violation of the stool. When appendicitis is normal, it will not lead to loose stools.
Absolutely forbidden!
Do not take antacids (these are drugs that neutralize hydrochloric acid), as well as laxatives and painkillers, it is possible that they can aggravate your condition. Do not eat too salty, sweet, fatty, spicy foods. Alternate animal protein foods with vegetable foods, add vegetables and fruits to your daily diet and avoid overeating. It will be useful to prevent diseases of the digestive system.
Peritonitis
As you probably know, the described disease can be fatal. If you start the inflamed process, then it can burst from the pus that overflows it. And all the contents will fall into the abdominal cavity, where irreversible inflammation, peritonitis, can begin. Sometimes, unfortunately, medical errors are made, and a patient with a high fever and acute pain in the abdomen is placed in the infectious ward, losing valuable time to establish the true cause of the pain. Therefore, it is better to describe to the doctor all the symptoms, even not too significant, in your opinion, significant. It will be useful to directly say that you suspect appendicitis in yourself.
note
Your main symptoms may not appear, but even high fever, vomiting, or constipation may already be a sign of appendicitis. Sometimes, for example, with appendicitis and generally there is no high temperature, only in babies this indicator is able to rise high in any inflammatory process. You may experience completely non-standard symptoms, such as: “seizing” the lower back, painful sensation in the genitourinary organs. This is due to the fact that the vermiform appendix is located not far from these areas of the body, and pain can give off in them.
In infants, pregnant women, the elderly, patients after transplantation of organs from obesity, patients with diabetes, cancer, HIV infection, it is very difficult to determine this disease! A sign may be in these individuals even ordinary fatigue. In people aged, appendicitis can serve as a reason for exacerbating chronic pathologies.
Conclusion
We examined what are the symptoms of a disease such as appendicitis. How to check the presence of this pathology in men, women and children, you now know. The most important thing we wanted to convey with this article is do not ignore any malfunctions in your body, because they can be a signal of a serious illness.