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Appendicitis can spread to the leg

08 Sep 18

How to recognize whether it is appendicitis?

Appendicitis is a common disease that occurs as a result of inflammation of the vermiform appendix of the cecum (appendix). It can appear in a person of any age, however, appendicitis most often occurs in people between 10 and 30 years old.

The operation to remove acute appendicitis is not at all difficult, but neglect of medical care in some cases leads to death: peritonitis, purulent peritonitis, blood poisoning, rupture of appendicitis - the risk of death. But how can you distinguish inflammation of the appendix from ordinary food poisoning or simple indigestion?

Monitor your symptoms

In which side is the human appendix located? There is a common misconception about appendicitis on the Internet: they write that its location can be anywhere, so there is no need to pay attention to the location of the pain if inflammation is suspected. This is not entirely true. In general, appendicitis is located on the right side of the lower abdomen.

The leading symptoms of acute appendicitis are pain. They can start anywhere - a person thinks that his whole stomach hurts. After a certain period of time, pain is concentrated in the area of ​​the right lower abdomen. The acute pain in the right side periodically goes away, and then comes back with renewed vigor.

Exception! Although rare, a right-sided location of the heart occurs; accordingly, the projection of the human cecum will be on the left side. Pregnant women also have a different physiology: during the period of gestation, the appendicitis of the expectant mother may change its location.

Minor symptoms

It is not necessary for a person to have all the possible signs of appendicitis; in some cases, inflammation can develop with very mild symptoms or symptoms belonging to other diseases (intestinal colic, food poisoning, inflammation of the appendages in women, influenza, liver dysfunction). But even the slightest suspicion of a common “trouble” is a reason to visit a doctor.

  • fever with body temperature above 38 degrees;
  • chills;
  • profuse sweating;
  • decreased or complete lack of appetite;
  • dry mouth;
  • nausea;
  • manifestation of arrhythmia;
  • tenesmus (false urge to defecate);
  • constipation, less often loose stools, combined with frequent vomiting;
  • sometimes there is frequent painful urination;
  • back pain, as with renal colic.
  • Methods for determining appendicitis

  • Shchetkin-Blumberg method. The person should be placed on his back and asked to bend his knees slightly. The one who checks, while palpating the abdomen, slowly presses his fingers on the anterior abdominal wall just below the navel and sharply removes his fingers. In this case, the patient notes either simply a feeling of discomfort or the appearance of sharp pain. If the pain is not severe and after pressing the fingers the nature of the pain does not change, the symptom is negative. If, when removing the hand, the pain in the abdomen worsens, radiating to the groin of the navel or left side, the symptom is positive, which confirms the presence of appendicitis.
  • You need to ask the sick person to lie on the floor, put your arms along your body and stretch your legs straight out. Then raise your left leg to an angle of 50-60 degrees. The examiner should sharply and firmly tap the heel of the patient's raised leg with the edge of his hand. Do the same with the right leg. If after such a test the pain in the right side of the abdomen increases, the presence of appendicitis is confirmed.
  • The right iliac abdomen is pressed with the palm of the hand, held until the pain subsides, after which the patient is asked to laugh loudly or cough. With appendicitis, the pain will return immediately.
  • Pain due to inflammation of the appendix worsens during walking and movement. Each subsequent step gives a feeling to the stomach and the patient wants to quickly walk to a chair or even squat down. Lying on your side or curling up in a ball, the pain subsides.
  • Muscle tension in the abdominal cavity (hard belly) also indicates inflammation occurring internally.
  • The onset of inflammation of the appendix in children is gradual. Children with appendicitis will behave restlessly, wake up at night from pain, and may cry. The child’s body is able to react to such a disease with “cold symptoms” (cough, runny nose). When adults try to touch the stomach, the child begins to resist.

    In older people, symptoms of appendicitis are less noticeable, which often leads to delayed diagnosis. In addition, against the background of inflammation of the appendix in older people, chronic diseases worsen; this also slows down the recognition of the main source of anxiety.

    What not to do

    If there is even the slightest hint of appendicitis, you should not hesitate to call an ambulance or go to the hospital yourself, because the disease is fraught not only with serious complications, but also with death.

    If you have appendicitis, it is not advisable to:

  • Overeat so as not to irritate the intestinal mucosa, which will only increase the pain. Especially prohibited are foods that can cause irritation of the mucous membranes. After medical care is provided, surgery may be required; this is done on an empty stomach.
  • Take any painkillers and laxatives, give enemas. When examined by specialists, such actions interfere with making a correct diagnosis.
  • Applying a heating pad and warm compresses to the painful area, this provokes the spread of infection and increases the risk of appendix rupture.
  • Use medications for the intestines or stomach. The medications can cause a strong chemical reaction that can cause the appendix to rupture.
  • All the tips on how to check for appendicitis are advisory in nature, but you definitely need to know them in order to turn to specialists for help in time.

    It is estimated that in our country acute appendicitis affects about a million people every year.

    The mortality rate due to it seems to be low: only 0.2-0.3%, but behind such insignificant numbers lies about 3,000 human lives that doctors cannot save. And in the summer, when many people are at their dachas and far from doctors, it is especially important to be able to distinguish appendicitis from ordinary abdominal pain in order to see a doctor in time.

    Blind but dangerous

    The appendix is ​​a short and thin blind vermiform appendix 7-10 cm long, located at the end of the cecum (the initial part of the large intestine). Like any part of the intestine, the appendix produces intestinal juice, but so little that it does not play a special role in digestion. Therefore, for a long time it was considered a “mistake of nature” and was removed by the patient at the first opportunity. But recently, scientists discovered lymphoid cells in the caecum, the same as in human tonsils. And since these cells have the properties to protect the body from infections, the assumption was born that the appendix is ​​part of the immune system.

    However, the number of protective cells in it, as it turned out, is very insignificant and cannot have a strong effect on the immune system. So most experts are still confident that there is no benefit from the appendix, but the harm in case of its inflammation can be significant: acute appendicitis not diagnosed in time can cost not only health, but also life.

    Experts do not agree on the exact causes of appendicitis. However, risk groups have been identified.

    For example, people suffering from diseases such as chronic tonsillitis, pneumonia, persistent colds, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, caries. As a result of these diseases, infections penetrate through the bloodstream into the appendix and provoke an inflammatory process there. So healthy teeth are the key to health for appendicitis.

    There is also a stress theory. It is based on the fact that as a result of excitement in a person, a sharp narrowing of the blood vessels occurs and this leads to sudden bleeding of the appendix and the development of its inflammation.

    But most often the occurrence of appendicitis is explained by blockage of the junction of the colon and the appendix, which often happens with constipation and chronic colitis.

    How to identify him?

    In most people, the appendix is ​​located approximately halfway between the navel and the right ilium. In this place, with appendicitis, the maximum pain is felt. But if the appendix is ​​raised to the right hypochondrium, closer to the liver, pain will appear in this area. And if the appendix is ​​lowered into the lower part of the pelvis, then in women appendicitis is easily confused with inflammation of the appendages, in men - with the bladder.

    When the process is located behind the cecum, when it is wrapped towards the kidney and ureter, pain occurs in the lower back, radiating to the groin, leg, and pelvic area. If the process is directed inside the abdomen, then pain appears closer to the navel, in the middle abdomen and even in the pit of the stomach.

    Pain occurs suddenly, without any obvious reason. At first they are not too strong - they can still be tolerated. And sometimes, from the first minutes of an attack of acute appendicitis, they become unbearable and proceed like colic.

    The pain will torment a person as long as the nerve endings of the appendix are alive. When its necrosis occurs, the nerve cells will die and the pain will subside. But this is no reason to calm down. Appendicitis will not “resolve.” On the contrary, the resolution of pain is a reason for immediate hospitalization. Acute appendicitis is accompanied by other symptoms. At the onset of the disease, general malaise, weakness, and loss of appetite appear. Nausea and sometimes vomiting may soon occur, but only once. A typical temperature ranges from 37.2 to 37.7 degrees, sometimes accompanied by chills. A white or yellowish coating appears on the tongue.

    Simple techniques will help you recognize appendicitis. But keep in mind that self-diagnosis must be carried out very carefully.

    1 Lightly tap with the pad of your bent index finger in the area of ​​the right ilium - with appendicitis it always hurts there.

    2 For comparison, also tap on the left iliac region, which in case of inflammation of the appendix will not cause pain. Attention: you cannot carry out palpation (feeling the abdomen with your hands) yourself, there is a danger of rupturing the appendix, which usually leads to peritonitis.

    3 Try coughing loudly: increased pain in the right iliac region will tell you that you have appendicitis.

    4 Apply gentle pressure with your palm to the area of ​​your abdomen where it hurts the most. Hold your hand here for 5-10 seconds. The pain will ease slightly. Now remove your hand. If pain appears at this moment, this is a sign of acute appendicitis.

    5 Take a fetal position, that is, lie on your right side and pull your legs towards your body. With appendicitis, abdominal pain will ease. If you turn on your left side and straighten your legs, it will intensify. This is also a sign of acute appendicitis.

    But self-diagnosis should be limited to this. Do not hesitate to consult a doctor, since appendicitis itself, and all the diseases that it can masquerade as (renal colic, exacerbation of pancreatitis or cholecystitis, peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, acute inflammation of the bladder, kidneys, female organs), require hospitalization!

    If a diagnosis of acute appendicitis is made, the first-line treatment is emergency surgery. Currently, there is a gentle laparoscopic method in which the appendix can be removed without a large incision. Unfortunately, in our country this type of operation is not yet widespread enough due to the poor technical equipment of hospitals.

    The main task of the postoperative period is to avoid complications, for example, suppuration of the postoperative wound. In their occurrence, most often there is no fault of the surgeon. Whether or not this complication occurs depends on the state of the appendix at the time of surgery - the greater the degree of inflammation, the higher the risk of suppuration.

    If the operation was successful, young patients have their stitches removed already on the 6-7th day and discharged from the hospital. But for elderly people, as well as with chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac ischemia, etc.), the sutures are removed 2-3 days later. After this, it is advisable to seal the wound with an adhesive plaster.

    Do not take a bath or go to the sauna for about a month: water and temperature loads on fragile scar tissue make the seam rougher, wider and unsightly. At least three months, and older people should not lift weights for six months. Avoid sports that strain your abdominal muscles. Try not to catch a cold: coughing is dangerous for you.

    If you try to “endure” appendicitis, peritonitis may occur - inflammation of the abdominal cavity. Its symptoms:

    increasing pain throughout the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, in severe cases - drowsiness, lethargy, bluish tint to the face;

    pulse up to 120-140 beats per minute, temperature up to 39-40 C;

    the tongue is covered with a white coating, then becomes dry, like a crust, the lips dry out and crack;

    the stomach is swollen, it hurts in all its areas, but especially on the right.

    Peritonitis can only be treated surgically. Moreover, the operation is very complex and lengthy. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to save the patient. That is why, if you experience any abdominal pain, you should never delay visiting a doctor. As they say, we don’t want to scare anyone, but everyone should remember how dangerous appendicitis is.

    The nature and localization of pain in appendicitis

    Pain from appendicitis occurs when the appendix is ​​inflamed. At first glance, appendicitis is not a serious pathology, but if measures are not taken in a timely manner, it can even end in death. It is very important to pay attention to pain during appendicitis, it can be different. How to distinguish pain from appendicitis from other diseases? What to do if you have pain? When is emergency surgery necessary for appendicitis?

    Features of pain with appendicitis

    The main symptom is severe pain in the abdominal area. At the beginning of the development of inflammation, the pain spreads throughout the abdomen and can be localized in its upper part. It is worth noting that the pain is poorly localized, so it is difficult to distinguish it from other pathologies.

    Usually the patient calls an ambulance because the attack of pain is severe and lasts about 6 hours. The patient cannot name where it hurts most with appendicitis, but, as a rule, discomfort first occurs in the epigastric region (under the stomach). Then the pain appears in the right side, it becomes more pronounced.

    Painful sensations with appendicitis can vary in intensity. A distinctive feature is that they do not stop, they are constant.

    In case of sharp and intense pain, you need to urgently go to the hospital. Most likely, the appendix has ruptured (perforation). No less dangerous is sharp pain, which is accompanied by restlessness; it may indicate an acute form of appendicitis. In this case, a purulent process may begin to develop in the appendix.

    Appendicitis pain can worsen when a person walks or moves. The patient walks carefully and keeps his hands on the right abdomen.

    Attention! If suddenly the pain from appendicitis subsides for a while, this does not mean that everything is fine. On the contrary, such a symptom may indicate progressive gangrene of the appendix, which is accompanied by the death of nerve endings.

    Other symptoms accompanying pain with appendicitis

    Quite often the patient completely loses his appetite and feels sick. Constipation may also occur. Some people think that they have problems with the gastrointestinal tract because the symptoms are similar. To rule out appendicitis, you should immediately consult a doctor. He examines the abdomen by palpation. As a rule, the pain is most localized in the iliac region on the right. It is important to consider that there are no exact symptoms for appendicitis, so you should immediately contact a specialist.

    Additional symptoms of appendicitis include:

  • Rovsing's symptom . When the doctor presses on the iliac region on the left, the patient experiences discomfort in the right.
  • Sitkovsky's symptom . The pain worsens when lying on the left side, because the cecum with the appendix moves and the peritoneum stretches.
  • Barthomier-Michelson's sign . Pain increases with palpation on the left side.
  • Voskresensky's symptom . Severe pain occurs in the right side of the abdomen, and it worsens when the person begins to move his right arm.
  • Obraztsov's symptom . The pain increases when the patient, lying on his back, raises his right leg.
  • How to independently recognize pain from appendicitis?

    The maximum pain occurs under the right rib (near the liver). If your appendix is ​​located in the lower part of the pelvis, the pain will be localized on the right side. It happens that the location of the appendage is behind the cecum, in which case it turns towards the ureter and kidney. The patient experiences unbearable lumbar pain that radiates to the leg, groin, and pelvis. If the process is directed inward to the abdomen, pain will occur near the navel.

    With acute appendicitis, weakness appears and problems with appetite may occur. After some time, severe nausea and vomiting appear, and the temperature rises to 48 degrees. In some situations, the patient is bothered by chills, and a white coating is visible on the tongue.

    You can perform a self-diagnosis:

  • Using the pad of your index finger, gently tap near the ilium on the right. If you have appendicitis, you will experience severe pain.
  • Gently tap near the left iliac bone; there should be no pain there. Dangerous! Do not feel the abdomen yourself; there is a risk of appendix rupture and peritonitis.
  • Cough. In case of appendicitis, severe pain will appear near the right ilium.
  • Touch the place of pain, place your palm for 5 seconds, you will notice that it becomes a little easier. Remove your hand; if the pain becomes unbearable, it means you have acute appendicitis.
  • Lie on your right side and tighten your legs; if you have appendicitis, you should feel better. When turning to the left side, the pain will intensify.
  • In any case, it is not advisable to engage in self-diagnosis; it is best to immediately call an ambulance. Your doctor will help you find out the underlying cause of your pain. Quite often, the symptoms of appendicitis are confused with pancreatitis, renal colic, acute cholecystitis, stomach ulcers, acute inflammation in the bladder and female organs. Under no circumstances should you refuse hospitalization if you experience pain in your abdomen.

    Treatment of acute appendicitis

    If the diagnosis is confirmed, emergency surgery is performed. Today there is a modern gentle technology - laparoscopy . It doesn't leave a big scar.

    The main thing after surgery is to follow medical recommendations to prevent complications. Quite often there can be suppuration of the wound; it can be provoked by the inflammatory process of the appendix during surgery.

    If the operation is timely and without complications, the patient is discharged within a week. Later, stitches can be removed for patients with hypertension, diabetes, or cardiac ischemia.

    Thus, it is very important to promptly pay attention to the pain that occurs with appendicitis. To avoid serious consequences, it is best to immediately go to the hospital or call an ambulance, otherwise everything could end tragically.

    How to diagnose appendicitis at home

    What is appendicitis?

    1. Abdominal pain, first in the lower abdomen, then diffuse pain in the umbilical region, which radiates to the lower right corner of the abdomen. The pain appears constantly, and as appendicitis develops it can become stronger, especially when coughing, moving and moving.
    2. Methods for determining appendicitis at home

    3. An adult or child should lie down on a flat surface. This could be a sofa, floor. Place your arms along your body, legs slightly apart and bend at the knees. The second person must perform the following manipulation: with the fingers of his right hand, lightly press in the lower right corner of the abdomen and release sharply. If, upon release, pronounced pain appears, this means that you need to go to the surgeon. The pain may also radiate to the navel, groin or left side. And if the pain is accompanied by at least half of the symptoms listed above, then you probably shouldn’t put off until tomorrow what should be done immediately. Because acute appendicitis requires immediate surgical treatment.
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        Appendicitis is an acute inflammatory process of the vermiform segment of the cecum; the disease is diagnosed in people of any age, but most often at 20–35 years of age. The pathology requires immediate medical attention, otherwise peritonitis may occur.

        Inflamed appendicitis must be removed

        On which side is appendicitis located?

        The appendix (vermiform appendix) is an appendage of the cecum, its length is 3–9 cm, structural features can be seen in the photo. Inside, the cavity is filled with lymphatic tissue; the process performs protective functions in the body. The cells synthesize antibodies that destroy pathogens; the process itself contains beneficial bacteria to maintain an optimal balance of intestinal microflora.

        The inflamed appendix increases in size

        Where is the appendix located? The process in humans is located in the lower right part of the iliac region, with a mirror arrangement of organs - on the left side.

        Causes of inflammation of the appendix

        Appendicitis is a fairly common disease, but doctors have not been able to fully figure out what causes the appendix to become inflamed.

        The main theories of inflammation of the appendix:

        • mechanical - the inflammatory process begins against the background of blockage of the intestinal lumen by helminths, fecal stones, and adhesions;
        • infectious - the appendix becomes inflamed due to the active proliferation of bad intestinal microflora, when fusobacteria penetrate into it;
        • neuro-reflex – disturbance of nutrition of the walls of the appendix;
        • nutritional – the cause of inflammation lies in chronic constipation, lazy bowel syndrome;
        • eating large amounts of protein foods.
        • According to studies by Spanish scientists, appendicitis in children developed in 40% of cases after eating seeds and chips.

          Frequent consumption of chips by a child can cause appendicitis

          The inflammatory process most often occurs in an acute form; chronic appendicitis is diagnosed in only 1% of patients - periods of exacerbation are followed by remission. In the typical course of the disease, the symptoms are cyclical, the disease goes through 4 stages of development.

          How does acute appendicitis develop?

          Between the rupture of the appendix and the development of peritonitis, a bright interval occurs - all unpleasant symptoms disappear, this is a very dangerous harbinger, the person feels better, and stops thinking about the need to see a doctor.

          Symptoms of appendicitis

          At the first stage of development of the inflammatory process, appendicitis can be confused with other diseases, since the pain is localized above the navel in the epigastric region, solar plexus, but for several hours it has been shifting to the iliac region on the right side.

          The first signs of appendicitis:

        • a sharp attack of varying pain, discomfort intensifies during coughing, when changing body position, and can radiate to the leg, to the scrotum area;
        • in men, when palpating the abdomen, one or both testicles may rise;
        • nausea, vomiting – occurs as a reaction to severe pain; the vomit contains pieces of undigested food and bile;
        • febrile conditions - the temperature rises to subfebrile levels;
        • constant thirst;
        • Dyspeptic disorders manifest themselves in the form of loose stools or constipation, urination becomes more frequent, and the color of urine becomes dark.
        • Inflamed appendicitis causes high fever

          Latent appendicitis may manifest itself with other symptoms with mild pain; a similar clinical picture often occurs in diabetics.

          In elderly people, the clinical picture of inflammation of the appendix is ​​blurred - the pain is mild, the process occurs without temperature or with a slight increase in temperature, but in this category of patients complications and death are diagnosed more often than in middle-aged men and women.

          Signs of appendicitis during pregnancy

          In the initial stages of pregnancy, the symptoms of appendicitis appear as usual, difficulties arise after the fourth month - the uterus increases in size, begins to put pressure on the internal organs, the loops of the esophagus are displaced, and the appendix rises to the liver.

          Location of appendicitis at different stages of pregnancy

          The pain can radiate to the kidneys; due to the stretching of the uterus, the abdomen is tense, so palpation is an ineffective method of diagnosis in pregnant women. The inflammatory process is dangerous for the mother and child - miscarriage, premature birth can occur, the fetus begins to suffer from intoxication and oxygen starvation.

          How does appendicitis manifest in children?

          The appendix can become inflamed not only in adults, but also in children; the disease is most dangerous in the perinatal period and in patients of a younger age group - young children cannot talk about their feelings, tell and show where it hurts, which makes diagnosis much more difficult.

          Symptoms of the disease in children:

        • babies are capricious and cry against the background of severe pain - if you try to slightly bend your right leg, a strong response appears;
        • the stomach is sharp, tense;
        • loose stools, frequent urge to defecate;
        • older children refuse to get up, complain that their side hurts, and in a horizontal position they fall over to the right side to relieve the pain;
        • the temperature rises sharply to 38 degrees or more;
        • a strong coating is noticeable on the tongue;
        • lymph nodes enlarge, a rash appears;
        • repeated vomiting occurs against the background of severe intoxication - such a sign may be the first harbinger of appendicitis, often appearing before the pain syndrome.
        • When a child is inflamed, the lymph nodes become enlarged

          In children under 6 years of age, when the appendix is ​​inflamed, there may be no pain on the right side; discomfort may affect the navel area and lower abdomen.

          How quickly does appendicitis develop in a child? It may take 24–36 hours between the appearance of the first signs and peritonitis.

          Characteristic signs of atypical forms of appendicitis

          In the classic location, the appendix is ​​located below the cecum on the right side, but in atypical forms of the disease, the symptoms may differ slightly from those of acute appendicitis.

          Options for the location of the process:

          1. Retrocecal location - the process is located behind the cecum. The pain appears on the right, but is muted.
          2. Ascending position - the appendix is ​​directed upward, towards the liver. The pain syndrome affects the upper abdomen, the area of ​​the right hypochondrium.
          3. The pelvic position is diagnosed more often in women - the process is displaced into the pelvic organs. When inflammation occurs, cutting pain appears, discomfort is felt in the pubic area.
          4. Medial location - the appendix is ​​displaced from the middle of the axis. The pain is intense, all the symptoms of inflammation are rapidly manifested.

          The most difficult to diagnose is wandering appendicitis - pain appears in the upper abdomen or in the navel area, the discomfort constantly moves for the first 12 hours, then becomes stronger and more constant.

          In some cases, the appendix may have an atypical location

          Palpation is one of the main methods for diagnosing acute appendicitis; instrumental and laboratory methods are designed to confirm the diagnosis, determine the degree of development of the inflammatory process, blood group and coagulability.

          Most diagnostic methods for determining pathologies of the digestive system are named after the author of the symptom, they have been used for a long time, their effectiveness and information content have been proven by time.

          Appendicitis: symptoms, signs, surgery for appendicitis

          Almost every person encounters a disease such as appendicitis throughout his life. What kind of disease is this? What are its symptoms and treatments? Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a worm-shaped appendage of the rectum.

          Expert opinion: The appendix is ​​a vermiform appendix of the cecum.

          The disease has a characteristic, pronounced clinical picture and can only be treated with surgical intervention.

          Doctors distinguish two types of appendicitis: acute and chronic. Chronic appendicitis, in turn, can have three morphological forms:

        • Superficial or catarrhal.
        • Simple.
        • Phlegmonous-ulcerative, gangrenous, apostematous.
        • One of the main symptoms of the disease – pain in the lower abdomen (usually on the right) appears in 90% of cases of appendicitis. The first sign of an acute form of the disease may be the patient’s complaints about the periodic occurrence of discomfort and mild pain from the gastrointestinal tract: pain in the navel, bloating, colic. After visiting the toilet, there may be a short-term relief, but after some time these symptoms usually return.

          Over the course of 2-3 hours, rare colic turns into a constant aching and bursting pain. At this time, pain moves to the right, to the lower abdomen. This process is called the Kocher-Volkovich symptom. To save yourself from the approaching pain and severe discomfort at this moment, it is recommended to lie on your right side and pull your legs bent at the knees towards your stomach.

          Increased abdominal pain with the slightest movement, be it an attempt to cough or stand up, or when shaking while walking or riding in transport is a typical sign of appendicitis in an adult or child.

          Expert opinion: These symptoms will be related to peritoneal irritation. Irritation of the peritoneum can occur with peritonitis, perforation of a stomach ulcer, acute pancreatitis and other diseases of the abdominal organs.

          Typically appendicitis occurs on the right side, but cases of left-sided appendicitis have been reported in medical practice. In this case, the appendage of the cecum is on the left.

          Expert opinion: Such situations arise in the case of dextraposition of organs, that is, with their mirror arrangement. The heart will be on the right, the liver on the left, etc.

          In addition, the pain that occurs during an attack directly depends on how the appendix is ​​located. Pain in the right lower abdomen, in the pubic area, indicates the pelvic position of the appendix. If it is located in close proximity to the medial line of the abdomen, pain will make itself felt in the navel area. When the appendix is ​​located behind the cecum, pain appears in the lower back and “radiates” to the right leg and groin area.

          Pain with appendicitis is not pronounced or severe. Basically, the patient tolerates it until the appendix begins to stretch from the pus accumulated in it, that is, until empyema of the appendix begins. In this case, the pain becomes unbearable. The resulting gangrenous processes contribute to some relief for the patient. This occurs due to the death of nerve endings, which are the source of pain. When the appendix ruptures, pain spreads throughout the entire abdominal cavity along with the purulent contents of the ruptured appendage.

          In 80% of patients, the main symptoms of appendicitis are nausea and vomiting in the first hours of inflammation. Therefore, appendicitis can often be confused with a disease or disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is immediately questioned if nausea occurs before abdominal pain. Often a sign of appendicitis, and more so among adults, is refusal to eat. Loss of appetite is typical for 90% of patients with a similar diagnosis.

          Also with appendicitis the following are possible:

        • Problems with stool (one third of all patients). Delayed defecation occurs due to intestinal paresis, that is, restriction of intestinal motor functions due to the spread of inflammation throughout the abdominal cavity. In 15% of patients, on the contrary, excessively loose stools are observed.
        • False urge to go to the toilet (tenesmus).
        • Slight increase in temperature. Half of the sick people experience an increase in temperature to 37.5 C during the first 24 hours. Doctors note that a strong increase in temperature is not typical for this disease unless it is associated with complications and extraneous infections.
        • Acute appendicitis is characterized by the development of some pathological changes that are observed in the first day after the onset of inflammation: lymph disorder and stagnation of blood in the capillaries, hemorrhages and swelling, margination of leukocytes, the appearance of siderophages - specific phagocytes. These changes usually appear in the part of the appendix that is most distant from the medial line of the abdominal cavity.

          Surgery for appendicitis

          Typically, a patient admitted to the hospital with suspected appendicitis must be under the supervision of a doctor for some time and undergo a series of tests. After confirmation of the diagnosis, surgery must take place. It can be performed using one of two methods: endoscopic or traditional.

          With the traditional method, at the location of the appendix, usually in the right side, an incision is made in the muscle tissue, reaching a length of 8 cm. Next, the surgeon examines the appendix; if the nearby tissues are not inflamed, he removes it, and the area where the rectum and inflamed appendage connects is sutured. When the appendix ruptures, peritonitis can occur. In this case, an operation is also performed to remove the inflamed appendage, after which the patient remains in the hospital for another week under the supervision of specialists and takes antibiotics.

          Today, more and more often, surgery to remove the appendix is ​​performed using a modern endoscopic method, in which a tube with a camera at the end is inserted into the abdominal cavity. The doctor monitors the condition of the appendix at this moment on the computer monitor. The inflamed appendage is cut out through a special section; the incision in this case will be significantly smaller than with the traditional method of surgery.

          Rehabilitation after a successful operation takes place within two days. The postoperative period does not require any special diets or restrictions. Often, symptoms characteristic of appendicitis can arise due to dyskinetic pathologies. This condition is called false appendicitis. If during surgery the doctor discovers that there is no inflammation of the appendix, he will still cut it out to prevent a possible disease.

          Appendicitis is a common disease in women in which inflammation of the appendix or appendix occurs. According to statistics, this pathology occurs twice as often in women aged 20 to 40 than in men. Scientists attribute this to the structural feature of the female body: the appendix is ​​located on the right side of the abdomen next to the organs of the reproductive system, which means inflammation of some organs can affect neighboring ones.

          There is a high risk of developing appendicitis in young women during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that the expanding uterus puts pressure on the organs surrounding it and in some of them the blood supply is disrupted.

          Causes of appendicitis in women

          The attack usually begins suddenly. Immediately before it starts, the person feels great. Typically, the first signs of the disease appear in the evening or at night.

          Here are the main causes of appendicitis that make up the clinical picture:

        • Obstruction or mechanical blockage of the process. Due to the fact that the lumen is blocked due to a foreign body or fecal stone, the contents stagnate in the appendix, an infection occurs and a rapid inflammatory process begins. Blockage occurs due to enlarged lymph nodes, due to parasites, due to the appearance of some tumors or neoplasms;
        • Individual features of the structure of the appendix;
        • Infection from the intestines or through the blood;
        • Hormonal disorders;
        • Inflammation begins due to disturbances in the circulatory system of the appendix;
        • There are cases when inflammation of the appendix spreads from the genital organs.
        • In this regard, among the preventive measures for appendicitis in women are:

        • Proper nutrition helps eliminate the problem of constipation, diarrhea and indigestion. This means that you need to have a sufficient amount of fiber, and you also need to eat less fatty and hard-to-digest foods;
        • Maintain immunity (frequent inflammatory diseases can lead to infection in the appendix) Chronic diseases of the stomach, pancreas, intestines, genitourinary system organs and persistent inflammation of the tonsils are especially dangerous;
        • Fight allergic conditions, which also contribute to decreased immunity;
        • Try to prevent the development of dysbacteriosis;
        • It is advisable to reduce the number of stressful situations to a minimum.
        • Signs of appendicitis in women, first symptoms

          At the very beginning, the patient experiences a non-sharp nagging pain. Moreover, it is not necessarily localized in the right lower abdomen. Pain sensations spread throughout the abdomen and ultimately concentrate at the location of the appendix (Kocher's symptom).

          A case from one's life. At the beginning of the attack, my entire stomach ached very badly, and it seemed that my pancreas had worsened. They called an ambulance and took him to the hospital. An emergency operation was performed there. Since there was already a phlegmonous stage with the threat of peritonitis.

          Particularly dangerous are cases of patients with an atypical location of the appendix. The symptoms in this case will be different, since the pain will be concentrated not in the right lower side, but in the lumbar region, in the right hypochondrium, in the pubic area or in the perineum. The photo shows where it hurts at different locations of the appendix.

          A case from one's life. On the forums, the patient, describing her medical history, writes that at first she had a feeling that her kidneys were hurting, and then she felt pain in the stomach area. After that she lost consciousness. When she woke up, nothing hurt anymore, but her husband insisted on going to the hospital. As a result, he was urgently operated on.

          If a destructive form of appendicitis develops, the nature of the pain changes. They become paroxysmal. There is a characteristic increase in pain when coughing or laughing. Often the pain when walking radiates to the leg.

          Important! Dangerous signs indicating the development of complications of appendicitis:

        • The cessation of pain due to dry mouth and coated tongue (pain disappears due to the death of appendix cells);
        • The pain is sharp, like being stabbed with a dagger (this happens with peritonitis;
        • Convulsions;
        • Loss of consciousness .
        • A case from one's life. For two days the girl had all the signs of appendicitis. Nausea, vomiting, fever, pain when walking. The delay led to fainting and surgery for peritonitis.

          Another important symptom is the low-grade temperature of 37 - 37.5° and at the culmination of the attack can rise to 38°

          There are cases when the temperature does not rise or even drops. This happens in women over 50 - 60 years old.

          At normal temperatures, the pulse quickens.

          Appendicitis in women: features of the course

          In addition to abdominal pain and temperature, you should pay attention to the following features of acute appendicitis in women:

        • Persistent nausea and constant urge to vomit (vomiting itself does not bring relief);
        • Diarrhea and bloating (in rare cases, constipation) are often present;
        • Dry mouth;
        • The appearance of a yellow or white coating on the tongue (women over 40 should pay special attention to these signs);
        • If the inflammation is caused by an infection, then the patient has a headache and joint pain;
        • In rare cases, blood pressure increases;
        • The presence of an inflammatory process is characterized by tension in the abdominal muscles, so it becomes hard;
        • Increased leukocytosis (detected after a general blood test), in women after 50, 60 years of age there may not be leukocytosis;
        • During an attack, a woman experiences general weakness and has no appetite;
        • In women over 50 years of age, the first signs resemble those of intestinal obstruction. ;
        • A positive Shchetkin-Blumberg symptom is almost always present.
        • Often in girls, characteristic symptoms appear during menstruation. This is often caused by the proximity of the ovaries and appendix. During menstruation, diagnosing the disease is quite difficult, since during this period many women experience severe aching pain in the lower abdomen.

          A case from one's life. Due to the fact that it is difficult to diagnose the symptoms of appendicitis in women during the menstrual cycle, the girl underwent surgery already at the gangrenous stage with serous peritonitis.

          In girls, the menstrual cycle is also associated with ovarian rupture, which in its symptoms is very similar to appendicitis. Conversely, during surgery for a ruptured ovary, the surgeon often removes the inflamed appendix. The combination of these diseases is also explained by the fact that inflammation of the appendix (especially if it coincides with ovulation) can provoke rupture or apoplexy of the ovary.

          In any case, if the signs listed above appear, consult a doctor immediately. An examination by a doctor, additional examinations and tests will help clarify the diagnosis and prevent the occurrence of unwanted complications.

          Chronic appendicitis in a woman can manifest itself in periodic attacks.

        • The attack may not begin with pain in the navel, but immediately hurts in the right iliac region. There may be soreness in the groin or pain may radiate to the lower back or rib area.
        • The pain worsens with constipation, walking, coughing and any other physical activity.
        • An exacerbation of the disease is indicated by nausea and vomiting.
        • Chronic appendicitis can cause excessively painful periods.
        • For patients with this problem, doctors try to do everything possible to perform an appendectomy in a timely manner and save the person from the risk of the consequences of peritonitis.

          A case from one's life. Starting at the age of 11, I had periodic attacks for two years. As a result, in one of the attacks there was very severe pain, they sent me to the hospital and operated on acute appendicitis, preventing peritonitis.

          Diagnosis of appendicitis

          Diagnosis in women is complicated by the fact that the presence of all signs cannot clearly indicate appendicitis. Symptoms can be caused by pathologies of the abdominal cavity, inflammation of the uterus or other organs of the female reproductive system. That is why, if nagging pain appears in the lower right abdomen, you should also visit a gynecologist.

          According to one study, of 165 women who were operated on for suspected appendicitis, only 21 found that the problem was inflammation of the appendix.

          The topic of inflammation of the appendix is ​​discussed in the video in the program “Live Healthy!”

          So the symptoms of appendicitis are similar to the first signs of the following diseases:

        • Ovarian apoplexy;
        • Torsion or rupture of the cyst;
        • Renal colic;
        • Pyelonifritis;
        • Ectopic pregnancy;
        • Adnexitis and so on.
        • Appendicitis in pregnant women is especially difficult to diagnose

          Important! In any case, acute, nagging or pressing pain in the abdomen is a reason to urgently consult a doctor. Any diseases of the internal organs are life-threatening if left unattended.

          Interesting information. What can and cannot be done before the doctor arrives is discussed on video as part of the “Health TV” program

        • The first is an examination by a doctor using abdominal palpation. This is how they check the Bartomier-Michelson symptom, Obraztsov’s symptom (when the pain intensifies while pressing on the stomach and raising the right leg.) and Shchetkin-Blumberg’s symptom. If pain occurs when pressing in the area slightly below the navel, the doctor may conclude that the inflammation involves the genital organs (Zhendrinsky's symptom).
        • Ultrasound.
        • Additional laboratory tests are required: blood and urine tests.
        • The most reliable effective diagnostic method is laparoscopy under general anesthesia. During the examination, treatment may be performed by removing the appendix. The entire appendix is ​​examined completely. Moreover, the base of the process, which often remains hidden, becomes visible. It is in this area that inflammation develops, causing peritonitis.
        • Treatment for appendicitis is always an operation to remove it or an appendectomy. The operation is performed under general anesthesia. After 5 days, as a rule, the woman returns home, and after two weeks she can already go to work. During this time, you need to stick to a diet and avoid physical activity.

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