Analyzes are a means of diagnosing diseases and assessing the condition of the body. One of the most informative diagnostic methods is a blood test, which allows you to identify even hidden pathologies such as appendicitis. In this article, we will analyze how this procedure is performed and how to determine appendicitis by a blood test.
Definition
Appendicitis is an inflammatory process that occurs in the appendage of the cecum (appendix). Patients with this diagnosis make up a significant portion of patients in the surgical departments. Newborns and children suffer from this disease very rarely. This is due to the structural features of their body.
The disease is prone to rapid development, which without immediate surgical intervention can lead to life-threatening complications. Appendicitis is also dangerous because in some cases the symptoms are quite lubricated, which makes it difficult to diagnose it. To confirm the diagnosis, a complex of emergency measures is used, among which a blood test is not the last.
Indications for analysis
Appendicitis can be indicated by a large number of symptoms, the appearance of which must be consulted by a doctor. These include:
- Stable temperature increase over several days.
- Loss of appetite.
- Weakness, fatigue.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Painful urination.
- Cramps.
- Diarrhea.
- Sharp and pulling pain on the right side of the abdomen.
In some cases, the clinical picture is quite bright, which makes it easy to diagnose the disease. But with blurry symptoms, additional examination methods are needed to confirm the development of the pathological process. In children, the presence of appendicitis is much more difficult to determine, because they can not always correctly indicate the source of the ailment. Therefore, with an inexplicable change in behavior, increased irritability and pain, which, when the body is located on the right side, disappears or significantly decreases, you need to see a doctor faster.
Blood Drawing Rules
The procedure for taking blood for appendicitis can be performed in two ways:
- Blood sampling from a finger. For research, capillary blood is used.
- Blood sampling from a vein. In this case, venous blood is used. This method allows you to immediately and biochemical analysis.
To obtain the most reliable result, you must adhere to a number of rules (with the exception of emergency cases):
- Blood sampling is done on an empty stomach.
- A few days before the analysis, refuse fatty, smoked, fried foods and alcohol.
- Do not smoke a few hours before the procedure.
- About one day do not take medications. If it is impossible to cancel the preparations, it is necessary to notify the laboratory assistant about this.
Blood test for appendicitis
A complex of diagnostic measures is used to confirm the diagnosis, an important place among which is a blood test. When decoding the results, the values of the following indicators are especially important:
- White blood cells. Immune cells that detect abnormal cells in the blood, after which they are attacked and eliminated.
- The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). An important indicator that indicates the intensity of the disease.
- Red blood cells.
- Band neutrophils. They are a type of white blood cells. But in addition to the protective function, damaged tissues are restored.
- S-RB. With the development of an inflammatory focus, the liver synthesizes a specific protein that inhibits the development of infection.
- HCG.
Decryption
When decoding a general blood test for appendicitis, certain features are necessarily taken into account. For instance:
- The age of the patient.
- The presence of chronic diseases.
- General condition of the body at the time of blood donation.
- Pregnancy.
It must be remembered that during pregnancy, the white blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate are slightly higher than normal values. But at the same time, this condition is not considered pathological if additional symptoms do not occur. In this case, it is recommended to use other diagnostic methods.
In older people, the leukocyte formula may not reveal a pathological increase in leukocytes due to the age-related characteristics of the patient.
An analysis of hCG is prescribed to exclude an ectopic pregnancy, the symptoms of which are easily confused with the development of appendicitis. In this case, elevated white blood cells will be detected not only in the blood, but also in the urine.
Blood counts in adults
A blood test for appendicitis in adults primarily reveals a white blood cell count. At an early stage of the development of the disease, this indicator will be within normal limits or slightly increased. In this case, the patient is sent to a hospital under observation and after some time the analysis is repeated.
A few hours after the first signs appear, the leukocyte count will begin to rise gradually. With a severe stage of disease development and the absence of treatment, a 2-fold increase in the content of white blood cells can be observed. This is a very dangerous condition that indicates the development of acute inflammation in the body, which could occur in the event of a rupture of the appendix and the development of peritonitis. In this situation, emergency surgical intervention is necessary.
Sometimes a normal white blood cell count is diagnosed, but symptoms typical of appendicitis are observed. This is an indication for additional diagnostic measures and is not considered a contraindication for surgery.
| Norm, 10 9 / l | The presence of an inflammatory process | The possibility of peritonitis |
| 4.0–9.0 | 12.0-14.0 | 19.0–20.0 |
ESR Index
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a fairly informative indicator for the development of inflammatory processes in the body. In normal condition, it is stable. But if a blood test for appendicitis revealed an increase in ESR, especially against the background of an increase in the white blood cell count, this is a sign of the development of an acute inflammatory process that occurs in the body.
Below is a table of ESR values (mm / h).
| Children teens | Women | Men |
| 3-12 | 2-15 | 8-15 |
C-reactive protein
It is a marker of any inflammatory focus in the body. The normal value is 1 mg / L. Its increase can not be regarded as an absolute sign of appendicitis, but against the background of an increase in leukocytes and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, increased indicators can confirm the development of this disease.
Features of the analysis in children
The development of appendicitis in children is more dangerous. This is due to the immaturity of the immune system. Diagnosis in this case can be difficult, since the child can not always explain the source of pain. But when examining painful areas, children begin to cry and push away the doctor’s hand.
Despite the similarity of the diagnostic measures, the blood test for appendicitis in children and adults will be slightly different, since the norms of some indicators have differences.
The table below shows the level of leukocytes within normal limits in children of different ages (10 9 / l).
| 0-3 years | 3–6 years old | After 11 years |
| 6-17 | 5-12 | 9-12 |
In acute appendicitis, a blood test will indicate a sharp increase in ESR levels against the background of an increase in white blood cells and C-reactive protein.
Additional diagnostics and treatment
Only a doctor can determine which blood test for appendicitis will be most accurate. But due to the fact that this analysis may give inaccurate information, additional diagnostic measures are necessary. These include:
- Analysis of urine. It is a fairly informative diagnostic method. The presence of leukocytes, protein and bacteria will indicate the development of appendicitis. But if the presence of red blood cells in the urine is detected, it is highly likely that the development of diseases of the genitourinary system and kidneys can be judged.
- Computed tomography, which is used for suspected abscess.
- Laparoscopy. This is a modern and effective method of diagnosis and treatment, which practically does not cause complications. Upon confirmation of the diagnosis, an operation is immediately performed to remove it.
Before receiving the results of the prescribed tests and confirming the diagnosis, surgery is extremely rare. Assessment of the clinical picture of the disease and decryption of the data obtained is carried out by a qualified surgeon.
In the treatment of appendicitis, drugs are used as symptomatic therapy, but the main pathology is treated only surgically.
Complications
Appendicitis is a very dangerous disease, especially for children in whom it develops in a more rapid form. Untimely treatment or its absence can lead to life-threatening complications. These include:
- Rupture of the appendix.
- Sepsis.
- Peritonitis.
- The isolated purulent center.
- Perforation of the process.
With appendicitis, the inflammatory process develops very quickly, provoking serious pathological conditions. When signs of an acute form of the disease appear, emergency surgical intervention is necessary.
Forecast and Conclusion
If suspicious signs appear, especially in a child, it is necessary to contact a medical institution as soon as possible, where an examination will be carried out and diagnostic measures will be prescribed, one of which is a blood test. Knowing which blood test shows appendicitis, it is possible to identify not only the inflammatory process itself, but also the degree of its development. To obtain a more accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo a set of diagnostic measures, because blood counts can change under the influence of various conditions.
If a pathological condition is detected at an early stage of its development and timely treatment is started, the prognosis in most cases is positive. In more advanced cases, the skill of the surgeon and medical staff will play an important role.