Appendicitis is a fairly common pathology. This disease can catch any person by surprise. Appendicitis occurs in both adults and children. Symptoms of this disease may be similar to other pathologies. Therefore, self-medication can be life-threatening. If the cause of the unpleasant, painful sensations is appendicitis, you will need to act very quickly. You need to know the characteristic features. What are the symptoms of suspected appendicitis will be discussed later.
Pathology Description
Symptoms of suspected appendicitis in adults and children can be very different. Moreover, confusing them with other diseases is extremely easy. Appendicitis is called one of the most dangerous and fairly common pathologies of the surgical type, which develops in the digestive organs.
This ailment is developing rapidly. This is its danger. Moreover, life-threatening complications and the most serious manifestations inevitably arise. Almost 5-10% of people are diagnosed with acute appendicitis. Therefore, the probability of encountering this disease is quite high.
If acute appendicitis is suspected, do not hesitate. You need to call an ambulance. The sooner the appropriate treatment is carried out, the smaller will be the adverse effects of this condition.
Appendicitis occurs in people of any gender and age. Most often it is diagnosed in patients from 5 to 40 years old. More often there is a suspicion of appendicitis in women. Symptoms in this case can be very different. Representatives of the fair sex at the age of 20-40 years are more prone to this disease than men. This is the official medical statistics. But up to 20 years, men often suffer from appendicitis.
After 40 years, the likelihood of developing this disease is significantly reduced, but is not excluded. Appendicitis can occur in rare cases both in children under 5 years of age, and in the elderly and middle-aged people.
This disease is caused by an inflammatory process that develops in the appendix. It is located in the lower intestine. The functions of this body are still not fully understood. It used to be a rudiment. Today, scientists are more inclined to the version that this organ plays an important role in immune, metabolic processes, and also takes part in the formation of intestinal microflora.
It has been proven that people whose appendix was removed suffer from an insufficient number of beneficial microorganisms in the digestive tract. However, this body is not vital. If pathology develops, pus accumulates in this process. Due to the narrowness of this organ, it accumulates without any way out. The appendix increases in size, pain appears. If no action is taken, it ruptures, and pus comes out, causing acute peritonitis. Then sepsis develops, abscesses in the abdominal cavity. This is very likely to be fatal. With timely treatment, the prognosis is favorable.
Causes
People who are not even familiar with this disease may have many questions, for example, suspicion of appendicitis, which doctor should be consulted, how the disease proceeds and why it occurs. The reasons for the development of this disease in adults are not exactly known. However, doctors agree that there is no single provoking factor. Various causes lead to the onset of the inflammatory process in the appendix.
In most cases, the cause is a blockage in the opening of the appendix, which connects it to the rectum. There are many reasons for this. For example, it can be the ingestion of fecal stones, foreign bodies into the appendix, as well as squeezing the upper part of the organ as a result of adhesions. This situation occurs after the transferred cholecystitis, enteritis.
Also, various bacteria can cause an inflammatory process in the appendix. These can be enetrococci, staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli. Most of the two factors are the same. If stagnant processes begin in the appendix, this leads to a weakening of local immunity in this area. Because of this, pathogens begin to actively develop here.
Another popular theory explaining the development of appendicitis is a spasm of the vessels that nourish this organ. In some cases, abdominal injuries lead to a similar outcome, because of which the appendix could shift or be damaged.
Another factor in the development of this disease is considered to be a tendency to constipation, poor intestinal motility, as well as an insufficient amount of plant fiber in food. Negative consequences can cause overeating, infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the presence of parasites in the body.
In some cases, poor heredity or a decrease in immunity due to bad habits, malnutrition or lack of vitamins plays a role. Stress, overwork also lead to a decrease in immunity, increasing the likelihood of developing this and a number of other diseases.
In pregnant women, due to appendix displacement during uterine enlargement, the risk of developing pathology increases significantly. Also in women who suffer from inflammatory ailments of the reproductive system, the likelihood of appendicitis is higher. If appendicitis is suspected, what actions will be appropriate? Everyone should know about this.
Symptoms
If appendicitis is suspected, symptoms in children and adults are important for early diagnosis. There are several characteristic symptoms that make it possible to suspect the development of this pathology.
If appendicitis is suspected, the symptoms in adults will be as follows:
- Acute abdominal pain, increasing with pressure.
- Fever.
- Nausea or vomiting.
However, this is not enough to make a diagnosis. Moreover, the symptoms presented do not always appear. So, appendicitis at an early stage is easily confused with gastritis or renal colic. But acute, persistent abdominal pain is a characteristic symptom of appendicitis.
A sharp pain suddenly appears in the morning or at night. In the first stage of the disease, discomfort is spread throughout the abdomen or in its upper part. But over time, the pain begins to concentrate in the lower right side. It is defined below the navel, but just above the hip.
It is this displacement of pain that is a characteristic sign of appendicitis. This manifestation is called the symptom of Kocher. Such a process occurs within a few hours after the onset of the development of the disease.
The pains become stronger over time. They become pulsating, aching. With laughter or coughing, this is especially noticeable. Even taking a deep breath becomes difficult. When turning or if the legs are bent to the stomach, soreness may subside a little. Unpleasant sensations sometimes radiate to the right leg, which is especially felt when walking.
Moreover, when pressing on the area below the right side, the pain is usually almost not felt. But if you abruptly release your stomach, the pain becomes severe. The abdominal wall becomes tense.
As the disease progresses, the pain may decrease or completely subside. This is a sign of necrosis of the appendix tissues. But when pressed, the sensations are still very painful. After this stage, the wall breaks and pus spreads in the abdominal cavity. The pain returns again, becomes unbearable.
For some people, the appendix is on the left. Therefore, all the sensations listed above will manifest themselves in mirror image. Pain can appear in the pubic, lower back, pelvis, in the right hypochondrium.
Other symptoms in adults
If appendicitis is suspected, symptoms in adults should be immediate. Among other things, a person often has a digestive tract disorder, and nausea appears. Vomiting may also occur. Such manifestations do not bring relief. It is worth noting that diarrhea usually does not happen in adults. Rather, stool retention occurs and dry mouth occurs.
If the appendix is not atypical, urinary retention may occur. Tachycardia may also occur (90-100 beats per minute). If the stage is initial, the temperature rises to the level of 37-38 º. Over time, the temperature can normalize, but at the final stage it again rises already to the level of 39-40º. At this time, the pain intensifies significantly.
In older people, symptoms may be mild. They are blurred, which does not allow the initial diagnosis. Only in the last stages can severe pain occur. But the heat may be absent altogether. If appendicitis is suspected, the symptoms in the elderly, although not pronounced, can be serious complications. The consequences at this age are far more dangerous.
In old age, you need to see a doctor at the slightest suspicion that appendicitis may develop in the body. Otherwise, the insidious disease will be taken by surprise, depriving the chances of a quick recovery and rehabilitation. It should be understood that the time of development of all symptoms, the passage of all stages occurs literally in 2-4 days. In rare cases, this process lasts a week. But sometimes the bill goes to the clock.
As manifested in small patients
If appendicitis is suspected, symptoms in children may be mild. It is especially difficult to detect the disease in babies up to 5 years old. Sometimes appendicitis in children has symptoms of indigestion. Moreover, it is worth noting that diarrhea in adults with the development of this disease happens much less often than in children.
Often painful sensations are not deployed in the right iliac region. Young children cannot explain at all where it hurts. Therefore, diagnostic methods in this case are special. In addition to diarrhea, the child may experience anxiety, the tongue becomes taxed. The temperature rises to 38 º. These symptoms are very similar to poisoning. Therefore, self-medication is extremely undesirable.
Only after a full diagnosis, you can establish the exact cause of such symptoms. The child will definitely need to show the pediatrician.
Actions for suspected pathology
What to do if you suspect appendicitis? There are several recommendations on how to act in such a situation. If pain or other symptoms appear, it is strictly forbidden to ignore them. You need to call a doctor. This may be a therapist (pediatrician for children). If the pain is severe, you need to call an ambulance.
Which doctor should I go to for suspected appendicitis? You need to contact the surgeon. This is due to the features of the treatment of the disease. If the pain persists within 6 hours, this is a good reason to consult a medical specialist.
Before examination, it is forbidden to take laxatives or gastrointestinal preparations. Also prohibited are antibiotics, analgesics. Any medication can blur the clinical picture. Some people are wondering if it is possible to wear a noshpu when suspected of appendicitis. The answer is also no. No drugs should be taken before a specialist is examined. Because of this, you can lose precious time, which will result in serious consequences.
It is strictly forbidden to apply a hot water bottle to the stomach. Such an action will accelerate the development of the disease. As a result, appendix perforation will occur much earlier.
A patient is shown bed rest while waiting for a doctor. You can not eat, as this will complicate the subsequent treatment. The doctor will be sure to ask about the symptoms. You need to prepare by telling all the details about your health. You can drink water, but in small quantities.
Diagnostics
Knowing which doctor to go if suspected of appendicitis, you should familiarize yourself with the diagnostic procedure. In most cases, the doctor will immediately determine the cause of the pain, if the patient tells in detail about their symptoms, and characteristic signs are also found during examination. But a number of other surveys will also be required. They are carried out promptly.
The doctor will check if there are some characteristic symptoms:
- Kocher - the pain moves from the area near the navel to the right side of the lower abdomen.
- Mendel - soreness is determined in the right iliac region when the abdominal wall is tapped.
- Shchetkina-Blumberga - a sharp pain appears when the arm is taken away after it is inserted into the right side of the lower abdomen.
- Sitkovsky - when turning on the left side, the pain intensifies.
What tests for suspected appendicitis will the patient need to go through? A blood test is required, which allows you to determine the inflammation in the body. White blood cell count will be increased. Blood biochemistry is also performed. An analysis of feces for the presence of hidden blood, as well as a program for the presence of undigested fragments, coarse dietary fiber and fat, is given.
A urinalysis may be required to detect abnormalities in this system. Helminth culture is also available. This allows you to identify ascariasis, enterobiasis, opistrosis, giardiasis.
An ultrasound of the peritoneum, appendix is performed. An x-ray of the peritoneal organs may be prescribed. An additional study is an ECG. This eliminates myocardial infarction, pain in which can be confused with appendicitis.
Preparation for surgery
If tests for suspected appendicitis confirm this diagnosis, treatment can only be surgical. For this, the patient must undergo some training. He takes a shower. If there is varicose veins, the legs must be rewound with bandages. If there is a chance of thromboembolic complications, heparin prophylaxis is carried out. If the patient has a labile emotional background, a sedative is prescribed.
If a person ate less than 6 hours ago, all contents are removed from the stomach. To do this, it is washed. Before the operation, the bladder is emptied. If the patient has chronic constipation, an enema is prescribed. If there is a suspicion of perforation of the appendix, this procedure is contraindicated.
Preparation lasts no more than 2 hours. It is carried out immediately after diagnosis. With the help of laparoscopic surgery, the appendix is removed. In some cases, doctors perform abdominal surgery. The first option is safer, does not have so many consequences.
Treatment
Having examined the symptoms with suspected appendicitis, it is worth paying attention to the features of the treatment of the disease. In the classical technique, the anterior abdominal wall is dissected. Next, the appendix is removed. Laparoscopic technique involves the creation of a small hole in the peritoneum. This method has many advantages over the classical method:
- Wounds heal much faster, incisions are very small.
- There are no pronounced scars.
After the operation, physical activity is limited to 2 months. Bed rest is also shown. Gradually begin to get up, walk. The patient is observed by a surgeon and therapist. The wound is timely treated.
A special diet is shown - table No. 5. It is forbidden to eat fresh muffin, fatty foods, pepper, mustard. You need to eat fractionally. The diet is supplemented with vitamins.
Prevention
Knowing the symptoms with suspected appendicitis, it is worth considering another nuance. There is no specific prophylaxis for this disease. But this does not mean that it is impossible to reduce the likelihood of developing a disease.
Need to rethink the diet. Add vegetables, fresh herbs and fruits to the menu. It is necessary to refuse smoked meats, fried and spicy food. Also, do not eat too hot dishes.
If the body has foci of infection, they should definitely be cured. This, for example, may be chronic tonsillitis, pyelonephritis, etc. It is also necessary to treat helminthic invasions.
A healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition can avoid the development of many diseases, not just appendicitis. Therefore, one must take responsibility for one's health. If characteristic symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor immediately.