Appendicitis is a disease in which 100,000 people are operated on every year in Korea. It is a disease that requires surgery within 72 hours, and if the surgery is delayed, the appendix may rupture and cause peritonitis.
If the disease is neglected, it can cause various complications such as peritonitis, intra-abdominal abscess, and intestinal obstruction, as well as death in severe cases, so it is important to remember the early symptoms of appendicitis and respond quickly if symptoms appear.
Today, we will learn about the early symptoms of appendicitis.
What Causes Appendicitis?
early symptoms of appendicitis
early symptoms of appendicitis
early symptoms of appendicitis
The cause of appendicitis is not clearly known. However, we see the following as the main causes.
Blockage and inflammation of the end of the appendix
There is no clear indication of what causes these symptoms.
In the case of teenagers, the main cause is obstruction of the appendix due to proliferation of submucosal lymphocytes.
It is a disease that has nothing to do with hair or ingestion of foreign substances.
There are some opinions that it is related to parasites and constipation.
Poor eating habits such as binge eating and overeating can be the cause.
Frequent drinking and smoking may be the cause.
early symptoms of appendicitis
An appendix can rupture suddenly without treatment, so early recognition of symptoms is of utmost importance. Early symptoms of appendicitis may include appendicitis, gastrointestinal symptoms, and fever. In addition to this, the most common early symptoms of appendicitis are:
A rapid heartbeat and high fever may occur.
Not only the right lower abdomen, but also the pain area gradually spreads to the entire abdomen.
If the appendix punctures and ruptures, the pain becomes more severe.
Chills and mild fever may occur.
Pain occurs when the right lower abdomen is pressed with a hand.
The pain starts in the navel and travels down the right side.
Causes nausea and vomiting.
It feels bloated and painful in the pit of the stomach.
In the beginning, you feel sick to your stomach and lose your appetite.
appendicitis treatment
If left untreated after the initial symptoms of appendicitis, serious sequelae can occur. Therefore, in most cases, the causative bump is excised, and antibiotics are administered and fasting is required for several days after treatment.
If the severity is severe and even pus is formed, the process can be more complicated. First, a tube is inserted to drain the abscess, and antibiotics are used to reduce inflammation.
In addition, after waiting for as short as a week or as long as several months, the protrusion is removed. For reference, the laparoscopic method, which has a quick recovery and small scars, is preferred over open surgery with large scars.
Appendicitis test
Appendicitis is diagnosed based on the patient’s symptoms, physical examination, and elevated white blood cells. Clinical findings are mainly evaluated and judged based on the results of various imaging tests such as service CT scans and ultrasound scans.
Abdominal ultrasonography is useful for diagnosing appendicitis in women of childbearing potential and in children, and is also useful for confirming perforation, abscess formation, etc., and for differentiating it from other diseases.
In the case of physical examination, palpation of the left lower abdomen causes pain in the right lower abdomen, and rebound tenderness, which intensifies when the hand that pressed the pressure point is released, is observed.
How to deal with appendicitis
early symptoms of appendicitis
early symptoms of appendicitis
early symptoms of appendicitis
It is important to deal with the disease as soon as possible because various complications can occur if left untreated.
In addition, as appendicitis occurs suddenly, it is important to respond quickly. Because medical personnel can cope, if symptoms occur, you must visit the emergency room quickly, and if it is difficult to visit, you must get help from 119.