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Appendicitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment |
Being a dangerous disease, it
seems that currently there are still many people who do not know the symptoms,
characteristics, and causes of appendicitis itself. Well, for those who do not
know, the appendix is an internal organ in the form of a small and thin pouch
with a size of 5 cm to 10 cm, which is connected to the intestine. Appendicitis
is a medical condition that causes inflammation of the appendix. The cause of
appendicitis is a blockage in the intestine that requires immediate medical
care. When appendicitis occurs, the sufferer will feel extreme pain in
their lower right abdomen, and if left unchecked, it will certainly become very
serious and the appendix can rupture to cause excruciating pain and
can be life-threatening.
It should also be noted that appendicitis could affect anyone from all walks of life. However, appendicitis usually occurs most often in the 10 to 30 year age group. Therefore, it is good if you know the symptoms, characteristics, and causes of appendicitis so that people with appendicitis can be treated quickly.
The most typical symptom of appendicitis is pain in the stomach. Even so, it is important to know that the symptoms of appendicitis are not just an upset stomach. There are other signs and symptoms of appendicitis that you need to be aware of.
The following are some of the
most common symptoms of appendicitis, such as:
1. Stomach
Pain in the Lower Right Abdomen (a
typical symptom of appendicitis)
As mentioned a little in the previous paragraph, the initial symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain that occurs in the lower right side. Usually, this stomach pain begins with symptoms of pain or cramps that appear suddenly. However, some people experience intense stomach pain more often than stomach cramps. This symptom occurs because the appendix experiences swelling and inflammation. This occurs due to irritation of the lining of the stomach wall, so you experience pain in the stomach.
The location of the pain
experienced by the sufferer may vary depending on the age and position of the
appendix itself. However, in many cases, this one appendix symptom starts in
the upper middle abdomen near the navel, which then moves to the lower right abdomen.
However, sometimes there are
people who actually experience pain in their back or pelvis. Meanwhile, if
you are pregnant, pain may appear in the upper abdomen. In general,
appendicitis pain will increase or become more intense when you make movements,
take deep breaths, push, cough, or sneeze.
Meanwhile, if you are pregnant, pain may appear in the upper abdomen. During pregnancy, the position of the appendix tends to be higher as the fetus pushes it up.
2. Nausea, vomiting, and
decreased appetite
Almost everyone who experiences indigestion usually experiences symptoms of nausea and vomiting. It turns out that this symptom also occurs in appendicitis. The appearance of these features of appendicitis is most likely due to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system. This discomfort in the stomach, of course, can drastically reduce appetite. Because it often appears when digestive problems occur, many underestimate this sign of appendicitis.
3. Indigestion
When you have appendicitis, you may experience digestive disorders such as constipation and diarrhea, apart from nausea and vomiting. In addition, other annoying symptoms of appendicitis that also accompany with difficulty passing gas, aka farting and back pain. This condition certainly makes the stomach more uncomfortable. You may feel a full stomach. If you experience this, it is likely that the intestinal blockage has occurred partially or completely.
4. Mild Fever
Appendicitis can cause a fever that ranges from 37 to 38 degrees Celsius. If it gets worse, fever can reach 38 degrees Celsius accompanied by an increase in heart rate. Fever can occur due to the natural reaction of the immune system when fighting an infection to reduce the number of bad bacteria that will invade the body. High fever can cause the body to sweat a lot, and even the body shivers.
5. Frequent Urination
The appendix is located under the pelvis, so its position is practically close to the bladder. Now, when the bladder comes into contact with an inflamed appendix, it will also affect the bladder. As a result, the bladder will experience similar inflammation. Inflammation of the bladder when appendicitis occurs, making you urinate more frequently. If described more accurately, the urge to urinate more frequently, but less urine is excreted. This is also, what makes urinating painful.
Generally, the symptoms of appendicitis mentioned above occurs in adults. In children, the symptoms are often different.
Therefore, parents must
understand very well what the signs of appendicitis in children are. The reason
is, this one disease can be experienced by everyone of all ages, including your
baby.
In children 2 years of age or
younger, the most common symptoms of appendicitis include:
· Fever
· Gag
· The
stomach feels bloated
· The
state of the stomach is swollen; when you tap it lightly it feels painful
While the symptoms of
appendicitis in children over 2 years of age and adolescents tend to experience
the following conditions:
· Nausea
· Gag
· Abdominal
pain in the lower right side of the stomach
Apart from children, pregnant
women also tend to show different appendicitis.
· Some expectant mothers may think of it as a symptom of morning sickness, which is a condition that occurs early in pregnancy. Symptoms of morning sickness are similar to appendicitis because it causes features, such as stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite.
· Appendicitis during pregnancy can cause pain, not in the lower right side of the stomach but in the upper abdomen. This is slightly different because the position of the intestine is pushed higher due to the presence of the fetus in the uterus. In addition, another symptom is a pain when passing stools. Common symptoms of appendicitis such as fever and diarrhea are rare in pregnant women.
In some cases, the cause of
appendicitis is rarely clear. It is just that, the risk of appendicitis itself
can increase if you experience the following conditions, namely:
1.
Genetic Factors
Many people do not know that
genetic factors can play a role as one of the causes of appendicitis. However,
as many as 56% of people with appendicitis are due to genetic factors. The risk
of a child developing appendicitis can increase by as much as 10% if one of the
immediate family members, such as a father, mother, or sibling has a history of
appendicitis, whether active or who has been treated. One of the causes of
appendicitis from generic factors can be seen from reports related to the HLA
system (human leukocyte antigen) and blood group, which shows that people with
blood group-A have a higher risk of developing appendicitis than people with
blood group-O.
2.
Virus Infection
The cause of the next
appendicitis is due to a viral infection that attacks. Head of the department
of surgical gastroenterology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Edward
Livingston revealed that one of the causes of appendicitis might be due to a
viral infection or other infection.
Not only that but the appendix
can also be caused by bacteria or fungi in the body that may have spread to the
location of the appendix. Bacteria can multiply rapidly, causing the appendix
to become inflamed, swollen, and even filled with pus.
3.
Consuming Less Fiber
Actually, food is not the main
cause of appendicitis. However, certain foods that are not digested properly by
the body can build up, which can clog the appendix and lead to inflammation.
Well, some types of food that are a little difficult to digest include fast
food, foods that are high in carbohydrates, and foods that are low in fiber. A study even looked at about two thousand Greek children and reported that
children who ate less fiber had a higher risk of developing appendicitis,
compared to children who were accustomed to eating a balanced diet.
4.
Injury or Impact on The Stomach
A study published by the journal BioMed Central reports that some small cases of injury to the stomach can also be a cause of appendicitis, especially for injuries or trauma that occur in the the abdominal area close to the position of the appendix, such as a fall, puncture, or impact, a blow to a blunt object. In addition, in a study conducted in Morocco, it was found that a stab wound in the stomach could cause the appendix to dilate and the lymphoid tissue of the appendix to enlarge.
Appendicitis is a condition that
requires medical attention. Well, among the various symptoms of appendicitis,
not everyone experiences the same symptoms as a whole. That means there are some
people who only experience certain features of the appendix (atypical).
Therefore, the diagnosis still requires the help of a doctor. The reason is,
according to the National Health Service, appendicitis can cause complications,
including:
Peritonitis
Peritonitis indicates that the appendix has ruptured so that bacteria infect the lining of the stomach
peritoneum. Without treatment, the infected organs can be damaged. Usually, the condition causes symptoms of severe stomach pain, fever, fast heartbeat, rapid
breathing, and swelling of the stomach.
Abscess
In some cases, untreated appendicitis can form an abscess. An abscess is a lump filled with pus, which indicates that the immune system is trying to fight the infection. According to the doctor, within 48 to 72 hours of symptoms appearing, the appendix can rupture and may develop complications. In order to prevent these complications from occurring, you should immediately visit a doctor or seek medical help. Especially if your appendicitis symptoms appear suddenly, worsen, and spread throughout your stomach, these are signs of a ruptured appendix. The first symptom is usually a faint pain around the navel. As inflammation develops, the pain travels towards the right side of the body, usually toward the hips. Other symptoms that appear during the next 24 hours may include nausea, vomiting, fever, and restlessness. In some cases, the patient will also experience abdominal swelling, back pain, or even constipation when the appendix has ruptured.
The main treatment for treating
symptoms is appendectomy. There are two types of medical treatment for
appendicitis, namely:
Laparoscopic appendectomy
A tube (scope) is inserted
into the stomach to view and remove the appendix. Usually, this procedure is
performed in cases of mild appendicitis. Most people prefer to do this
procedure because the recovery period tends to be faster.
Open appendectomy
This operation cuts the lower
right abdomen to remove the appendix and cleanse the abdominal cavity. Unlike
the laparoscopic procedure, this procedure is intended if the appendix has
ruptured or the infection has spread. An open appendectomy requires a longer
recovery period because it causes open wounds.
During treatment, the patient will be given fluids and antibiotics through an intravenous vein. Some patients may be prescribed pain medication if needed. The recovery process from an appendectomy will take several days, after which the patient is allowed to go home.
Disclaimer: Only generic information is provided in this content and this is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult your own doctor or a specialist for more information. HEALTHY and FITNESS do not claim responsibility for this information.
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