Appendicitis: where to be and how it hurts

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Cases of appendicitis occur in both children and adults, however, as statistics show, this disease is most often diagnosed in people aged 10 to 30 years. It is noteworthy that with age, the incidence of this pathology decreases.

The appendix is a rudimentary process that extends from the rectum, in the form of an elongated tube. Typical locations for the appendix are the right iliac region. However, there are also atypical cases that complicate the process of surgical intervention.

Lymphoid tissue is located under the mucous membrane of this process. This scion is not as useless as many people think. Its main function is that the lymphoid structures contribute to the destruction of pathogenic bacteria that have entered the intestines.

It is also home to bacteria that digest fiber and prevent decay in the colon. Precisely because the appendix is involved in supporting the immune system, medicine has recently been trying to preserve the appendix in cases of uncomplicated appendicitis with antibiotic treatment.

However, even if this fails and an operation has to be performed, after the removal of the appendix, a person lives a full life.

The reasons for the development of appendicitis

At the moment, the cause that causes the inflammatory process has not been identified. It is assumed that the disease can cause blockage of the appendix. Stool, overgrown lymphoid tissue, parasites, tumors can block the process. Due to the blockage, the mucus that forms in the appendix does not find an outlet into the intestinal lumen, which is why the symptoms of appendicitis develop.

Other factors that can cause this disease include abnormalities in the structure of this process, allergic reactions, impaired blood supply to the appendix, unbalanced diet, intestinal infections.

There are several forms of appendicitis - acute and chronic. The chronic form is extremely rare, while the acute form is in most cases. The acute process has a more pronounced clinical picture, as a rule, it develops within the first three days.

In this case, there are several stages that an acute process goes through:

1. The initial stage of the onset of the inflammatory process - catarrhal … At this stage, swelling occurs and hyperemia of the mucous membrane of the appendix is noted. The initial stage develops within six hours after the first signs of appendicitis.
2. Second stage - phlegmonous … In addition to swelling and hyperemia, it is characterized by the appearance of pus in the lumen of the appendix. The inflammatory process develops already in all layers of the appendix.
3. The third and most dangerous stage is gangrenous … It is characterized by the formation of areas of necrosis.

How to understand that it is appendicitis

If it is appendicitis, which side should it hurt? How to understand that this is appendicitis, on which side is the appendix? Such questions most often arise in those who suddenly feel acute pain in the abdomen.

In fact, it is difficult for a person who is not versed in medicine to recognize this disease, since the main symptom is pain, but it does not always hurt on the right. The difficulty lies in the fact that often the pain does not have a point at which it is concentrated, and therefore it is difficult to determine where exactly it hurts.

As a rule, pain is concentrated in the right iliac region. The pain is severe and intense. Starting in the abdomen or around the navel, it may begin to shift to the right, but this is not necessary. A characteristic symptom is increased pain when moving or coughing.

Against this background, symptoms such as various disorders of the digestive system may appear. Appendicitis may be accompanied by diarrhea, nausea, bloating, and vomiting. Often there is an increase in body temperature. If, after intensification, the pain passes, then this is not always a good symptom - this is characteristic of the third stage, when tissue necrosis begins.

That is why, in case of acute, intense pain, it is important to see a doctor in time, as immediate surgical intervention may be needed.

It is important to remember that before the arrival of the doctor, you cannot take painkillers and any other drugs, put enemas, since taking any drugs can complicate the doctor's determination of the disease.

It is also impossible to independently feel the stomach, press on it, as this can lead to complications.

You can only do a few safe tests on your own. For example, coughing slightly - pain on the right will intensify; if you curl up and lie on your right side, the pain will subside a little; if you turn on your left side and stretch your legs, then the pain, on the contrary, will intensify.

Call an ambulance immediately if you find the following symptoms:

• temperature over 38 degrees;
• intense, growing pain in the abdomen;
• vomit;
• cardiopalmus;
• pallor;
• cold sweat.

Do not delay seeking medical attention or try to relieve pain on your own. The danger of appendicitis is that the inflammatory process develops very quickly and the intestinal wall can break through in just a few hours.

This will cause whatever was in the inflamed appendix to enter the abdominal cavity. A complication such as peritonitis is life-threatening.

Diagnostics and treatment

The diagnosis of this disease in the hospital consists of the clinical picture, examination, ultrasound of the abdominal cavity. In most cases, treatment consists of surgery. The question may arise - from which side is appendicitis cut out?

Today, there are two types of surgical intervention for this disease. Most common operationperformed through an incision under local or general anesthesia. An incision is made in the anterior abdominal wall.

Another technique is laparoscopy … The uniqueness of this technique lies in the fact that both the diagnosis and the surgical intervention are performed with high accuracy. During this procedure, a puncture is made in the abdominal wall, through which an apparatus with a miniature video camera is inserted to examine the inflamed organ.

If immediate surgery is required, additional punctures are made - as a rule, three. Instruments are inserted into the punctures to remove the inflamed appendix.

Is it possible to treat without surgery

There are cases of appendicitis treatment without surgery, but they are not as common as surgery. In any case, with such a diagnosis, hospitalization is necessary - it will not be possible to manage with medicines at home. There are more and more cases of antibiotic treatment at the initial stage of therapy, but only in the case of uncomplicated acute appendicitis. But if the doctors do not observe an improvement in the patient's condition, then they prescribe a planned operation.

There is a tactic when doctors decide to first relieve the inflammation, and then - after 1-3 months - to operate, since many studies have shown that with this tactic, the risk of complications after surgery is reduced.

In Russia, at the moment, the standards for the treatment of acute appendicitis do not provide for the cancellation of surgery. If appendicitis is suspected, the patient is immediately hospitalized; if the diagnosis is confirmed, an operation is performed. Currently, laparoscopic operations are more common; antibiotics are additionally prescribed after surgery.

Is prevention possible

As such, there are no methods of preventing appendicitis, so you cannot somehow protect yourself from this disease. There is no direct link between appendicitis and lifestyle. Listen to your feelings, try to eat right, at the first symptoms, immediately consult a doctor.