Appendicitis is a fairly common and dangerous disease associated with inflammation of the blind process of the large intestine. In such situations, it is urgent to seek medical help. Therefore, information on how to determine appendicitis at home will be useful to everyone. After all, this disease can be accompanied by various signs, and the intensity of the symptoms can also vary.
To begin with, it is worth noting that no one is protected from such a problem - inflammation can begin both in young adulthood and even in old age. Therefore, it is worth examining in more detail the main symptoms of the disease, so that in case of danger, take measures in time.
How to determine appendicitis at home? Main symptoms
What are the signs of inflammation of the appendix? In fact, there are several:
- The most striking symptom is pain, and at first it can be localized almost anywhere in the abdominal cavity. For example, some patients initially feel discomfort in the epigastric region, while others claim that pain occurs in the navel and spreads throughout the body. In any case, as the disease develops, the pain radiates towards the right hypochondrium. The pains can be sharp, strong and dull, or even cramping. They can disturb the patient constantly or they may arise and disappear.
- In addition, appendicitis is often accompanied by symptoms of the digestive system, in particular, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- As the inflammatory processes progress, a person begins to feel weakness, malaise and other signs of intoxication. Body temperature can rise to 37.5 degrees, less often fever. Interestingly, the temperature measured with a rectal thermometer is a more important indicator - it can rise by 10 degrees.
How to determine appendicitis at home?
Of course, the symptoms of inflammation are noticeable, but many diseases can be accompanied by the same signs. And if you need to know how to determine appendicitis at home, then here are a few very characteristic symptoms:
- Constant pain in the right side of the body affects the patient’s gait. While walking, he constantly leans to the right, holding his side with both hands, trying to instinctively protect him from vibration.
- Patients always lie on their right side, bending their legs beneath themselves - so the pain becomes less.
- In more severe conditions, you can notice the asymmetry of the abdomen - the navel is shifted to the right.
- There is another piece of advice on how to determine appendicitis at home. The patient should lie on his back, arms and legs stretched out. Now, with your fingers you need to gently and strongly press the area around the navel, then sharply pull your hands back - this movement will respond with severe pain in the right side of the abdominal cavity.
At the slightest suspicion of appendicitis, it is necessary to immediately deliver the person to the hospital.
Appendicitis: treatment
First of all, the doctor will carefully examine the patient and prescribe some tests. To date, the treatment of appendicitis is the surgical removal of the inflamed process of the intestine. The operation is simple and is performed under general anesthesia.
Once again, it is worth noting that this condition requires the help of surgeons. In the absence of the necessary treatment, an appendix can be perforated - in such cases, all accumulated infiltrate will spread throughout the abdominal cavity, causing intestinal infections, sepsis, and infection of the internal organs.