Symptoms of Appendicitis
Appendicitis symptoms occurs when the appendix, a narrow tube that attaches to the large intestine on one end and is closed on the other, becomes blocked with hard waste, often due to a kink in the appendix. This blockage causes inflammation that will then cause the patient to experience the symptoms of appendicitis. The first warning sign of appendicitis is usually abdominal pain. This pain may increase until the tube ruptures, spreading infection within the body. A burst appendix requires immediate surgery and, because of this danger, a doctor should be consulted as soon as appendicitis is suspected.
Appendicitis symptoms include severe abdominal pain that typically recurs in spasms-first near the naval then moving to the lower right side of the abdomen. The pain generally becomes a constant ache after a few hours. Additional symptoms of appendicitis include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, pain when walking or urinating and tenderness in the lower right side of the abdomen. Symptoms of appendicitis take from 4 to 48 hours to develop and can vary greatly between individuals, which can make appendicitis difficult to diagnose. Children and the elderly often show only a few symptoms of appendicitis, such as a tender abdomen and a loss of appetite.
Anyone who is experiencing symptoms of appendicitis, including increased or continuous abdominal pain, should seek medical assistance. Until the individual experiencing appendicitis symptoms is examined by medical personnel, the individual should remain lying down. An ice pack or hot water bottle placed on the sore area may help ease the pain until medical help is obtained. Those who are experiencing symptoms of appendicitis should not eat or drink, as this can delay or complicate surgery if required. If the individual is thirsty, rinsing the mouth with water-without swallowing-will help to relieve a dry mouth. No over the counter medications should be taken as they have the potential to mask symptoms and interfere with proper diagnosis that increases the chances of rupturing the appendix.
Appendicitis is typically diagnosed through a combination of examining the patient for symptoms of appendicitis as well as blood, urine and imaging tests, such as a CT scan or ultrasound. Treating appendicitis necessitates surgery to remove the appendix before it ruptures. This procedure is known as an appendectomy and is most commonly performed laparoscopically, which requires several very small incisions, though some cases require a more invasive and open type of abdominal surgery.
There is no known definitive cause for appendicitis and it cannot be transmitted from one person to another, nor is it a hereditary condition. Since there is no way to know when appendicitis will occur, there is no way to prevent it.