Appendicitis is a deadly, requiring urgent medical attention inflammation of the appendix of the cecum. If you are late and do not perform the operation in a timely manner, a person may die. Therefore, it is extremely important to know the dangerous symptoms and places of localization of pain with appendicitis.
What is appendicitis?
Not everyone knows where appendicitis occurs: on the left or on the right. Surely many have repeatedly heard from people: "I removed the appendix on the right side." Others claim that the person is on the left. The question is actually simple. To understand where appendicitis is, on the right or on the left, it is necessary to remember how the digestive organs of a person are located.
Digestion Topography
The human gastrointestinal tract begins with the oral cavity and ends with the rectum. The oral cavity passes into the larynx, and then into the esophagus. It connects the larynx to the stomach, which passes into the small intestine. Behind him begins the large intestine. It is located in the form of the letter "P" and consists of several departments: blind, ascending, colon, sigmoid and rectum.
The sigmoid colon is located in the lower left abdomen. It is in it that the final digestion of food takes place, and the functions of the rectum are mainly evacuation. The cecum is located on the lower right of the abdomen, and it contains a kind of appendage in the form of a celiac process, called the appendix.
The condition when it becomes inflamed is called appendicitis. Now it becomes clear that to say that appendicitis was "cut out" to a person is wrong, because this definition means an inflamed state of the appendix. Therefore, the question of where appendicitis, on the right or on the left, is not correct.
Why is the appendix inflamed?
In the human body, the appendix performs a protective function against pathogens, as it contains a huge amount of beneficial bacteria. Normally, intestinal contents do not enter it. Sometimes the appendix is ​​even called an incubator, where useful microorganisms are stored and developed. However, in cases where the immune capabilities of this organ are depleted, or the load on the gastrointestinal tract is unusually high, the barrier functions of the appendix are reduced, the infection penetrates the appendage, causing inflammation.
Types of ailment
How to recognize appendicitis? Some doctors believe that it can be acute, requiring emergency medical care, and chronic - when the body is in a vulnerable position, but continues to perform its functions, preventing inflammation. Many people come to doctors who complain of pain and suspect that they have appendicitis. Where he is, left or right - a question that often baffles them. Experts assure that this body is located on the right side.
The many faces of appendicitis
Signs and symptoms of appendicitis are usually expressed by very severe pain symptoms. In most people, the disease proceeds in a similar way, but often this inflammation can resemble other diseases. A person does not even have the notorious question: “Where is appendicitis located: on the left or on the right?” - because the patient is absolutely sure that he has exactly this ailment.
A person may experience discomfort of a different nature. However, no matter what the disturbing manifestations, it is in no case possible to engage in self-diagnosis, because the symptoms of appendicitis in adults, the first signs, causes can be completely different. For example, women may confuse appendicitis with acute inflammation of the right ovary. Even the manifestations of this ailment are often mistaken for biliary colic. In rare cases, the first symptoms of inflammation can manifest as a heart attack.
This must be borne in mind and be sure to call an ambulance if some symptoms of appendix inflammation are found.
Symptoms of Appendicitis
How to recognize appendicitis? Doctors recommend calling a doctor immediately if a person observes the following symptoms:
- Pain. This is the very first and main symptom in inflammation of the appendix. Initially, the pain can be concentrated in the upper abdomen, resembling an attack of pancreatitis, or around the navel, mimicking the symptoms of administration. After 5-10 hours, the pain "falls" into the right ileal region - the localization site of the appendage of the cecum. Depending on the individual characteristics of the structure and location of the appendix, the pain may be located in the area of ​​the femur, liver, right pubic margin. In this case, any movement causes increased pain in the lower abdomen. Their character is undulating.
- Nausea. It usually appears after abdominal pain has occurred. Following nausea, 1-2 vomiting may occur.
- The state of the language. With appendicitis, it is covered with a thick layer of white plaque, salivation is difficult.
- Fever. The patient’s body temperature is often above 37 degrees C, but below 38.
- There may also be: diarrhea, rapid urination, cold sweat, palpitations.
Diagnosis of appendicitis
If a doctor suspects inflammation of this organ in a patient, then he is unlikely to ask whether appendicitis hurts: on the left or on the right, because the patient’s answer to this question can be far from unambiguous and subjective. Some patients tend to exaggerate their symptoms, while others, on the contrary, downplay. Therefore, when the doctor faces the problem of how to find out appendicitis, additional diagnostic procedures are used to verify the diagnosis:
- Blood analysis. With appendicitis in the general blood test, the number of leukocytes is increased, ESR and CRP are increased .
- Clinical signs. With a positive syndrome of irritated peritoneum (when a person experiences severe pain when clicking on the appendix area), the diagnosis is clear to the doctor almost one hundred percent.
- Ultrasound Unfortunately, it is not always possible to see appendicitis during an ultrasound examination , since there are no specific ultrasound signs of inflammation. However, the presence of fluid around the appendix may indicate peritonitis.
Appendicitis treatment
Unfortunately, to date, there are no methods for conservative treatment of appendix inflammation. The only way to save a person’s life is to remove the appendix.
It is very important not to endure discomfort and pain, not to guess where the appendicitis is - on the left or on the right - and immediately seek help from specialists. Doctors do not recommend taking painkillers in such cases, since they do not solve the problem, but only “drown” it. A person can decide that the discomfort has disappeared, and not give due importance to the current situation. But over time, the pain will return again, but time will be lost. In the most neglected cases, the score goes literally for minutes, doctors must have time to operate on the patient in time to save his life.