Causes, symptoms and treatment of appendicitis

If we are talking about a suspicion of appendicitis, then you should act quickly, otherwise delay can turn into dangerous consequences for a person in the form of intra-abdominal bleeding, sepsis, purulent pylephlebitis, unlimited peritonitis, which often, with untimely medical intervention, becomes the cause of fatal outcome.

It should be said that confusing the concept of "appendicitis" and appendix "is unnecessary. These are completely different terms. The appendix is ​​an organ - an elongated appendage of the cecum, or the primary section of the large intestine, and appendicitis is an acute inflammatory process that is rapidly developing in this organ and requires urgent surgical interference.

The functions of the appendix are still not fully understood. But it is known for sure that this organ takes part in various immune processes, forms enzymes necessary for digestion - lipase, amylase, and provides control over peristalsis. In addition, the appendix is ​​a real "storehouse" of beneficial bacteria, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the body.

It is for these reasons that in medicine they refused to remove this organ as a preventive measure for appendicitis. Because it strongly influences the formation of the immune system. In addition, a person with a removed appendix often has impaired digestion, they do not tolerate physical and mental stress, and are more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections.

In the case when an inflammatory process develops in the appendix, doctors talk about appendicitis. In this situation, the organ must be removed. And the responsibility for the formation of immunity will be assumed by other organs - the liver, spleen, lymph nodes.

Next, we will talk about the signs of appendicitis and how to recognize the disease at the initial stage of development and avoid serious complications?

Briefly about who is at risk of getting sick

Children aged 5 years and older, pregnant girls and adults from 20 to 30 years old are at greater risk of getting sick. An acute disease of the appendage of the cecum can develop equally in both women and men. Rarely, the pathological process is diagnosed in children under 5 years of age. This is due to the peculiarity of the organ's lymphoid system and the anatomical structure of the appendix, which at this age looks like a funnel, due to which it is easily emptied.

In isolated situations, the appendage becomes inflamed in the elderly. This is due to the reverse development of the lymphatic system in old age.

How to understand that it is appendicitis

The clinic of appendicitis depends on the form and stage of disease progression. Let's consider each of them separately.

What happens in the first 12 hours

At the onset of development, appendicitis is difficult to distinguish from a common eating disorder. At first, the patient is worried about a slight soreness in the abdomen - in the upper part of it. This symptom manifests itself in the evening or when a person is sleeping. The unpleasant sensations are very similar to the signs of gastritis. They are not intense, of a dull nature. As a rule, at this stage, a person does not pay attention to these sensations, citing a common indigestion.

Further, there is a feeling of nausea. There is a single vomiting. After a couple of hours, the pain from the upper part radiates to the lower right. In this case, the soreness becomes more intense. The person feels pressure and pulsation in the peritoneum. Over time, the pain gets worse.

Diarrhea and frequent urination are often noted at this stage. At this stage, the body temperature rises. As a rule, the indicators are insignificant - within 37-37.5 ͦ С.

Further, intoxication signs are observed, which manifest themselves in the form:

• loss of strength;
• headache;
• thirst, dry mouth;
• fast heartbeat;
• general malaise.

At the end of the first stage of inflammation of the appendage, the pains become so severe that it is difficult for a person to endure them. When palpating, the abdomen is still soft, but very painful.

Attention! The primary stage is the most favorable for surgery and a good outcome. However, as a rule, most people see a doctor much later.

What a person feels at the end of the first day

The patient feels severe pain, which is clearly localized in the iliac region - on the right. They are pulsating and intense. At the same time, the person feels nausea. The heart rate increases to 90 beats per minute. Temperature indicators already reach 38 ͦ С.

Important! If at this stage you look at the abdomen, then during inhalation and exhalation, the right side will lag behind the other parts of the abdomen.

At this stage, the abdomen already becomes firm (right in the lower region). Here we can say that the inflammation has spread to the abdominal cavity. The patient most often ends up in the operating room at this stage.

Second-third day

At this stage, the patient feels relief. But this is only an imaginary sensation (the process of dying off of the nerve cells of the appendix occurs, which causes a decrease in sensitivity and the disappearance of pain).

Along with this, intoxication signs become more pronounced. The heart rate increases rapidly, multiple vomiting is possible.

Important! On the second or third day, a decrease in temperature indicators is noted. As a rule, they reach 36 ͦ С.

The abdomen is still firm and distended. Peristalsis is completely absent. When you touch the area where the appendix is ​​located, unbearable pain is felt.

What happens at the end of the third day

An opening forms in the wall of the appendix. This process is accompanied by unbearable pain in the peritoneum in the lower right part of it. The sensations become more intense every minute. No relief is observed at this stage. The pain doesn't stop.

At the same time, it is noted:

• incessant vomiting;
• severe bloating and tension of the peritoneum;
• tachycardia;
• lack of peristalsis;
• thermometer readings reach the maximum level;
• the light surface of the tongue darkens (becomes brownish).

A breakthrough of the appendix becomes the cause of the development of purulent peritonitis and the formation of an abscess at the site of perforation.

Rare forms of appendicitis and their signs

In medicine, several uncharacteristic - atypical forms of acute inflammation of the appendage of the cecum are distinguished.

Form of appendicitis	Typical symptoms
Empyema of the appendix	It is characterized by the development of an acute purulent process. Pus is concentrated in the area of ​​the blockage of the organ. This is a very rare disease. It differs from classic appendicitis in that the pain is localized immediately in the lower abdomen on the right. In this case, the serous membrane is not affected, and the inflammation does not pass to the abdominal cavity. At the initial stage of the development of the disease, the soreness is mild. Only after 2-3 days a person complains of unbearable pain. Intoxication signs appear only 3-5 days. Possible vomiting - single or double
Retrocecal appendicitis	It occurs in 5-12% of all cases of inflammation of the appendix. This type of appendicitis is difficult to distinguish from a common intestinal disorder. At the same time, the symptoms are blurred, which does not allow a diagnosis to be made in time. At the initial stage, the patient feels only slight irritation of the peritoneum. As the progression progresses, there is a maximum temperature, loose stools with mucous contents, a feeling of nausea, and the urge to vomit. Often the patient indicates pain in the lower back, which radiates to the hypochondrium on the right side
Acute pelvic appendicitis	It develops in people with a low appendix. Most often - in 9-12% of cases - it is noted in women. In this case, pelvic appendicitis can be easily confused with inflammatory diseases of the genital organs. For the beginning of the pathology, the occurrence of minor pains in the upper part of the peritoneum is characteristic, which as the disease progresses, it radiates to the area above the pubis or the inguinal ligament on the right sides. As a rule, this pathology is not accompanied by vomiting or nausea. However, due to the close location of the bladder and rectum, the patient may experience intestinal disorders in the form of diarrhea (mucus is present in the feces) and frequent urination. With this disease, the stomach is not tense.
Subhepatic appendicitis	It develops when the appendix is ​​close to the liver. Soreness under the right rib makes the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis rather than appendicitis. With cholecystitis in a subacute form, palpation can detect an increase in the size of the gallbladder. With exacerbated appendicitis, it is impossible to find any pathological formation in the peritoneum.
Acute left-sided appendicitis	It is diagnosed in people with an atypical location of internal organs. Symptoms of classic appendicitis are characteristic of this disease. Only they will appear on the left side.
Appendicitis of pregnant women	Another rare form of inflammation of the appendix. It is characterized by a weakly expressed symptomatic picture in the form of a slight increase in temperature indicators, irritation of the abdominal organs and mild soreness in the hypochondrium on the right side
Chronic form	There is another form of inflammation of the epididymis of the initial section of the colon - chronic. It is rare - in 1% of cases. It is characterized by mild soreness. It starts to hurt badly when a person is physically stressed and coughs, sneezes. Relapse of pathology manifests itself in the same way as classical appendicitis.

Causes of acute appendicitis

Several sources are being considered that provoke subacute appendix inflammation.

1. The opening of the appendix is ​​clogged with fecal calculi (coprolites) and undigested food particles. Blockage of the organ leads to inflammation due to stagnation of its contents.
2. Entering the appendix of pathogens from the intestines - staphylococci, Escherichia coli, enterococci, anaerobes, streptococci.

These reasons are closely related to each other, since the stagnation of the contents of the epididymis is an ideal environment for the growth of microbes.

In addition, intestinal diseases of an infectious and parasitic origin can be the reasons for the progression of appendicitis in an exacerbated form. Another source of inflammation in the appendage of the cecum is unhealthy diet - excessive consumption of foods high in protein. This promotes the formation of protein breakdown products in the intestinal cavity and the onset of putrefaction processes.

Constipation is also a source of subacute appendicitis. The inability to empty the intestines in time results in the growth of foreign microflora.

Attention! Spanish scientists conducted a study, during which it was found that an attack of acute appendicitis develops in 40% of cases after eating store-bought chips and fried sunflower seeds. This occurs most often in children 14 years of age and older.

Video - How to distinguish appendicitis from other abdominal pain

Treatment of acute appendicitis

The disease can only be cured by a surgical method - by resecting the appendix. At the initial stage, a laparoscopic operation (minimally invasive) is performed. If signs of peritonitis have developed, then cavity surgery is performed.

After the operation, a person remains in the hospital under the supervision of doctors for 7-10 days. The term may be extended. It depends on the stage of the disease, the type of surgery and complications that have arisen after the surgery.

Important! In the West, antibiotics are used to treat acute appendicitis. It starts as early as possible. In Russia, antibacterial drugs are used after the operation.

If a person suspects appendicitis, then this is a reason for an urgent visit to the doctor. The sooner the patient gets into the operating room, the less the likelihood of complications and the faster he will return to normal life.

Video - Symptoms with appendicitis