How to know if you have appendicitis: your symptoms
Probably one of the most feared words by many people, especially for those who have had a case nearby, mainly because it can become a really serious condition, and because it is, in fact, one of the most common causes of emergency surgery . We talk about the appendicitis, which medically consists of inflammation of the appendix, a small bag connected to the large intestine about 8 centimeters.
Usually occurs when the opening of the appendix is blocked, either by the presence of stool or by a foreign body, and sometimes rare due to the presence of a tumor. It can occur at any age, although it is much more common between 10 to 30 years, being more difficult to diagnose in young children, women of childbearing age and the elderly. In fact, in women of childbearing age it is much more difficult because certain gynecological alterations (such as an ectopic pregnancy, the process of ovulation during the menstrual cycle or the torsion of an ovarian cyst) can present with abdominal pain without fever.
When the light of the appendix becomes obstructed, the inflammatory process begins, which in turn is aggravated by the bacterial infection produced by the bacteria normally found in the large intestine. This increases the pressure inside the appendix, weakening its wall and causing rupture and perforation appendiceal.
It is a medical emergency that should be treated as soon as possible, since between 24 to 48 hours from the onset of symptoms tends to produce peroration, may cause abdominal abscess, diffuse peritonitis and in the most severe cases pylephlebitis (which occurs when septic emboli form that go to the liver). In fact, if it continues without surgical treatment, the appendix ruptures, releasing all its contents in the abdominal cavity, so that when the pus forms both in the appendix and around it, it can be transferred to the blood circulation.
Signs that can alert you to an appendicitis
In general, we have a difficult condition to treat, since the symptoms of appendicitis may vary. However, the first symptom is the presence of pain that is located around the navel. It is a mild pain at the beginning, which gradually becomes more acute and serious.
The pain moves to the lower right part of the abdomen, concentrating on a point located on the appendix, known by the name of McBurney's point (we find it between the external third and the two internal thirds of an imaginary line located between the navel and the right upper iliac spine). During palpation the pain has its greatest intensity at this point. On the other hand, the pain may get worse when making quick movements, walking or coughing.
Other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting may also occur, which in many cases can be confused with other gastrointestinal conditions, such as gastroenteritis. The same goes for Crohn's disease, which causes pain in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen.
Images | ISTOCKPHOTO / THINKSTOCK This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician. We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor. ThemesGastrointestinal disorders
