The medical condition appendicitis has been in existence for a long time, and it has been affecting a lot of people. We reckoned that knowing a little about the medical condition would not be bad, this is why we have decided to write this guide on the treatment for appendicitis. If you would like to know, then read through this guide.
What is Appendicitis?
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is a thin pouch attached to the large intestine on the right side of the abdomen. It is usually about the size of a finger.
If you have appendicitis, the appendix can become swollen and infected. This can cause it to burst. If this happens, the infection is likely to spread throughout the abdomen, causing serious problems such as peritonitis (infection inside the abdomen) or an abscess around the appendix.
There are three different types of appendicitis:
- Acute – If appendicitis happesuddenly, it is referred to as acute. Most of the cases fall under this category and require immediate surgery. Otherwise, the appendix can rupture and cause perforation, wherein toxispread to the abdomen. The condition then becomes life-threatening.
- Chronic – Sometimes, appendicitis can be chronic, which meathe inflammation can occur and disappear multiple times in days or even years. This normally happewhen the obstruction is only partial or some factors, such as pressure in the pouch, remove a part of the obstruction. Although this does not require immediate attention, the condition can worsen, which will eventually require surgery.
- Stump – Stump appendicitis occurs when a portion of the appendix remaiand becomes inflamed.
Causes of the Condition
The definite cause of appendicitis is a blockage from a variety of objects including fecal matter. It may also be caused by bacteria, parasites, and in rare cases, a tumor.
The appendix has an opening located in the middle of the large or small intestine. It also has a lining that has the ability to secrete certain substances. However, the other end is closed, which meathat anything that gets into the appendix cannot be eliminated unless there’s pressure inside it that pushes what is lodged out of the pouch.
When the object is not removed or the appendix continues to be blocked, the lining becomes more aggressive in its secretions, triggering swelling. As the appendix swells and as the supply of blood to the organ diminishes, the tissue becomes necrotic or begito die. Appendicitis Symptoms Some of the common sigof appendicitis are:
- Bad breath
- Difficulty in passing gas
- Feeling of bloating
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pain during urination
- Pain in the rectum, lower back, or any part of the abdomen
- Severe cramps
- Appendicitis pain
- Swelling of the abdomen
Symptoms Of Appendicitis
In some cases, the symptoms of appendicitis can be very mild. The condition may also be difficult to diagnose immediately since it has a mesentery, a thin membrane that connects the appendix to nearby organs. If it’s pronounced, then it’s hard to clearly pinpoint where the pain is really coming from.
Appendicitis pain often starts off as mild cramping in your upper abdomen or bellybutton area that then moves to the lower right quadrant of your abdomen. This pain often:
- begisuddenly
- gets worse when you move or cough
- is so intense that it wakes you from sleep
- is severe and different from other abdominal pain you’ve experienced
- worsewithin a few hours
Other symptoms of appendicitis may include:
- loss of appetite
- indigestion
- nausea
- vomiting
- abdominal swelling
- low-grade fever
Less commonly, you may experience bowel problems including:
- diarrhea
- constipation
- the desire to make bowel movements
- inability to pass gas
If you’re constipated and you suspect that you may have appendicitis, avoid taking laxatives or using an enema. These treatments may cause your appendix to burst.
Contact your doctor if you have tenderness in the right side of your abdomen along with any other symptoms of appendicitis. Appendicitis can quickly become a medical emergency. Get the information you need to recognize this serious condition.
If your child develops symptoms of appendicitis, contact their doctor right away. Learn why it’s so important to get treatment.
Duration of Appendicitis
Appendicitis pain and other symptoms tend to show up quickly, usually within 24 hours. Sigof appendicitis can appear anywhere between 4 and 48 hours of infection.
Anyone who suspects appendicitis in themselves or their child should go to the emergency room right away to prevent complications. The earlier appendicitis is treated, the better.
Though rare, the symptoms caused by inflammation of the appendix can sometimes last a long time — chronic appendicitis. In these cases, pain in the lower right abdomen can last for weeks, months, or even years.
Diagnosis
A doctor will examine the person and ask some questioabout their symptoms. The doctor may apply pressure to the lower abdominal area to see whether pressure worsethe pain.
If the doctor detects the typical sigand symptoms of appendicitis, they will diagnose it. If not, they will order further tests.
Tests may include:
- blood tests to check for infection
- an MRI, CT, or ultrasound scan to see whether the appendix is inflamed
- urine tests to identify a kidney or bladder infection
How is appendicitis treated?
The main treatment for appendicitis is an operation to remove the inflamed appendix, known as an appendectomy or appendicectomy. The appendix is not essential for health, and the body functionormally without one.
There are 2 different ways to remove the appendix:
- laparoscopic (or keyhole surgery) — through a tiny telescope. There will be 3 small keyhole cuts of about 1-2cm long each
- open — there will be a small cut across the right lower abdomen
Recovery time from the surgery will vary depending on many factors, including the person’s general health, the type of surgery, and whether or not the appendix has burst.
Most people recover without too many troubles. Sometimes, the wound gets infected and this will need to follow up by a doctor.
Sometimes, the appendix is found to be normal – not inflamed – after it is removed and this usually meathere is another reason for the symptoms that are similar to appendicitis. Your doctor may discuss looking for another cause of the problem.
After surgery, your doctor may recommend the light activity for a few weeks until the surgical wound heals.
Although surgery is the main treatment for appendicitis, sometimes antibiotics might be used instead. They do not work in all cases. Antibiotics may be used if surgery is delayed, for example, if you have to travel a long way to have the operation, or for patients who are not suitable for surgery such as being too frail. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics before surgery to reduce the risk of infection.
Complications
Appendicitis can cause serious complicatioif your appendix ruptures, which can cause fecal matter and bacteria to spill into your abdominal cavity. A ruptured appendix can lead to painful and potentially life-threatening infections, including:
- peritonitis
- abscesses
- sepsis
To prevent or manage complications, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, surgery, or other treatments. In some cases, you might develop side effects or complicatiofrom treatment.
However, the risks associated with antibiotics and surgery are far less common and usually less serious than the potential complicatioof untreated appendicitis.
Peritonitis
When the appendix bursts and bacteria spill into your abdominal cavity, the lining of your abdominal cavity, or peritoneum, can become infected and inflamed. This is known as peritonitis. It can be very serious and even fatal.
Symptoms of peritonitis may include:
- fast heartbeat
- high fever
- shortness of breath or rapid breathing
- severe and continuous abdominal pain
Abscesses
An abscess is a painful pocket of pus that forms around a burst appendix. These white blood cells are your body’s way of attempting to fight the infection. The infection must be treated with antibiotics, and the abscess will need to be drained.
Drainage may occur during surgery. Otherwise, the abscess will be drained before surgery using a needle. You’ll be given anesthetics, and your doctor will use an ultrasound or CT scan imaging to guide the procedure.
Sepsis
In rare cases, bacteria from a ruptured abscess may travel through your bloodstream to other parts of your body. This extremely serious condition is known as sepsis. Symptoms of sepsis include:
- high or low temperature
- confusion
- severe sleepiness
- shortness of breath
Recovery time
In the case of keyhole surgery, the person can usually go home after 24 hours. For the first few days, the person may experience some constipation, pain, and bruising.
There may also be a pain at the tip of the shoulder. During the surgery, the surgeon pumps gas into the abdomen. This can lead to stimulation of the phrenic nerve at the diaphragm, which causes referred pain. Referred pain occurs at a location other than where the real source of pain exists.
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers may help with postsurgical pain.
If open surgery is needed, or if the person has peritonitis or another complication, they may have to stay in the hospital for up to a week.
After laparoscopic surgery, a person should limit physical activity for 3–5 days. They should avoid physical activity for 10–14 days after a laparotomy.
The doctor will advise about how much activity is suitable at each stage of recovery.
Conclusion
To conclude, Treatment for appendicitis will depend on how severe the case is. A person may need to undergo surgery, which can be performed laparoscopically or through an open incision. A person may need to take antibiotics to treat the infection before surgery or in mild cases.