If there is a pain in the abdomen, in particular on its left side, it is not recommended to use independent treatment, as this can have irreversible consequences. Quite often, the cause of the pain is appendicitis, the symptoms of which are pronounced, this disease requires urgent surgical intervention.
Appendicitis is usually called inflammation of the appendix, a length of 15 centimeters, located in the abdominal cavity of a person and performing the function of protecting against bacteria in the cecum. Thus, acute appendicitis, the symptoms of which are manifested in acute pain in the left side of the abdomen, can be observed in people of different age categories, regardless of their gender. 70% of people have this disease, and only 0.1% of people die due to exacerbation of appendicitis, so early diagnosis of the disease is urgently needed to exclude a fatal outcome.
The causes of exacerbation of appendicitis are currently controversial. However, some of them are distinguished:
- getting into the appendix of foreign bodies, stones or worms;
- inflection of the appendix;
- penetration into the vermiform appendix of feces;
- intestinal inflammation;
- the presence of infection in the body;
- injury to the abdomen.
Thus, appendicitis symptoms are pronounced, and the causes of its occurrence can be completely different. The main sign of appendix inflammation is the occurrence of pain in the upper abdomen, which gradually spreads to the right side and falls down. Often the pain radiates to the right hypochondrium, back and anus.
The disease has three stages of development - catarrhal, phlegmonous and gangrenous. With catarrhal appendicitis, the appendix is inflamed, the patient’s temperature is somewhat elevated. In the absence of other signs, the person most often does not go to the hospital, so the disease goes into a phlegmonous stage of development, in which the appendix begins to rot, causing inflammation of the tissues of the intestines and peritoneum, with pain. In the event that an operation to remove the process is not performed, the gangrenous stage begins, in which the inflammation spreads throughout the abdominal cavity, the health condition becomes worse, the stomach swells, it becomes difficult to move. Without surgery, the appendix may burst, thus, pus enters the abdominal cavity, causing infection of the blood. In this case, human life is in danger. With a gangrenous form of appendicitis, the symptoms are those in which there is nausea and vomiting, indigestion, the temperature usually does not rise.
Thus, appendicitis manifests itself gradually, first the appendix swells, later it is filled with purulent mass, within three days from the onset of the first symptoms, the appendix breaks, while peritonitis develops, which poses a danger to human life.
We can say that appendicitis, symptoms, its diagnosis are difficult to determine, since they can change, therefore, in frequent cases, a blood test, as well as urine tests are performed. To make an accurate diagnosis, ultrasound or computed tomography, in rare cases, x-rays, is used. Using computed tomography, you can see the changes in the tissues of the peritoneum and intestines. In medicine, when diagnosing this disease, they also use the laparoscopy method, which is an excellent method that gives one hundred percent result.
Thus, the symptoms of appendicitis are different, but the main thing is considered to be the appearance of acute, pulling pains in the abdomen. Depending on the manifestation of symptoms, the stages of the development of the disease are distinguished. The method of treatment of appendicitis is reduced to its complete removal. Removal can be carried out both surgically and using laparoscopy, in the case when it was used in the diagnosis. In case of improper placement of the appendix, the doctor performs a classic operation.