Appendicitis (appendicitis): symptoms, medications, etc.

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Definition

What is appendicitis?

Appendicitis or appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix) is a digestive disorder in the form of inflammation of the appendix (appendix). The appendix itself is a small, thin tube-shaped organ that attaches to the beginning of the large intestine.

The appendix is ​​located in the lower right abdomen. This one organ has no function, but when clogged it can be dangerous and can be fatal if not treated immediately.

If not treated promptly, it is possible that the inflamed appendix can rupture, passing feces / feces into the abdominal cavity.

This can have the potential to cause a dangerous infection (peritonitis) or it can close and form an abscess.

How common is this disease?

Appendicitis is a common condition and can occur at any age. However, most of these diseases occur in people aged 10-30 years.

This disease can be prevented by lowering your risk factors. Discuss with your doctor for more information.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of appendicitis?

The main symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain that begins in the upper middle abdominal area near the navel. This pain will usually move to the lower right abdomen and feel worse when you cough or push (cool) .

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, other symptoms of appendicitis can include:

• nausea and vomiting,
• loss of appetite,
• constipation or diarrhea,
• hard to fart,
• an enlarged stomach, as well
  
• low-grade fever.

Please also note, the symptoms of appendicitis between infants and adults are not always the same. Therefore, parents must understand very well what the symptoms that appear, especially in children.

Babies 2 years of age or less often show symptoms such as:

• fever,
• gag,
• the stomach feels bloated, and
• swollen stomach, which when you tap it lightly feels soft.

Meanwhile, children and adolescents tend to experience:

• nausea and vomiting, as well
• abdominal pain on the lower right side of the stomach.

In pregnant women, the symptoms of appendicitis may be similar to discomfort during pregnancy, such as morning sickness . Symptoms include reduced appetite, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.

However, it should be emphasized that appendicitis during pregnancy can cause pain not in the lower right side of the abdomen but in the upper abdomen.

This is because the position of the intestine is pushed higher due to the presence of the fetus in the uterus. In addition, another symptom is pain when passing stools. Symptoms of fever and diarrhea are rare in pregnant women.

There may be signs and symptoms of appendicitis not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When to see a doctor?

If the symptoms of appendicitis are continued, this disease can lead to a rupture of the appendix and lead to serious life-threatening infections. Especially if you experience:

• lower right abdominal pain that doesn't get better for several days,
  
• diarrhea or bloody stools,
• an enlarged stomach, and
  
• fever,

When you have experienced these signs, do not delay and immediately consult a doctor. If you still have other questions about the symptoms you feel, consult your doctor.

Causes and risk factors

What causes appendicitis?

Actually, until now, the reason why someone experiences appendicitis is unknown. However, experts believe that the main cause of appendicitis is blockage.

This blockage can be caused by clumps of feces, calcium salts and faeces (fecolites) or in rare cases it can be caused by tumors. When clogged, bacteria can grow and develop, causing inflammation and infection.

This causes the appendix to swell and fill with pus. If the intestines rupture, the bacteria can spread and cause infection throughout the body. In some cases, the appendix becomes inflamed as a result of infection.

Other causes are lymphoid hyperplasia, which is associated with inflammatory and infectious diseases such as Crohn's disease, measles, amebiasis, gastroenteritis, respiratory infections, and mononucleosis.

What increases the risk of developing appendicitis?

The following are various risk factors for appendicitis.

1. Heredity

Apart from obstruction by feces and foreign bodies, genetic factors also play a role in the appearance of acute appendicitis. As many as 56 percent of the causes of the condition refer to genetic factors.

The risk can occur in children who are at least blood bound to one nuclear family member who has a history of appendicitis (active or has been treated) is increased tenfold compared to children who come from families free of appendicitis.

The causes of acute appendicitis are passed down by family and are reportedly related to the HLA system (human leukocyte antigen) and blood group.

They also found that blood group A had a higher risk of developing this disease than group O.

2. Exposed to a virus

Dr. Edward Livingston, head of endocrine GI Operations at UT Southwestern, states that this condition may be caused by a viral infection or an infection that has not been determined.

These results were contained in a paper published in the January issue of Archives of Surgery in 2010.

The researchers also found a trend of increasing cases of appendicitis during the summer. However, no definite cause-and-effect relationship has been found between these two factors

3. Lack of eating fibrous foods

Basically, food is not the cause of appendicitis. However, intestinal obstruction which then becomes inflamed can occur due to an accumulation of certain foods that are not destroyed when digested.

For example, fast food that is high in carbohydrates and low in fiber.

In a study of nearly two thousand children in Greece, it was detected that children with appendicitis had a lower fiber intake than healthy children.

In another case study conducted in the United States, it was found that children with more than adequate fiber intake had a 30% reduced risk of appendicitis compared to children who rarely ate fiber.

Appendicitis is most often caused by a buildup of hardened stool, a sign of constipation.

Fiber can increase the weight and size of stool because it absorbs water, making it softer and easier to pass through the anus.

Hard stool can be a sign that you are not eating enough fibrous foods.

4. Exposure to air pollution

There is also a link between air pollution, especially high ozone levels, and appendicitis.

Experts aren't sure why air pollution is linked to an increased risk of appendicitis, but it's possible that high ozone levels increase intestinal inflammation or irritate intestinal microbes.

Research shows that appendicitis is more common in the summer.

The possibility is due to a combination of increased air pollution, gastrointestinal infections and high consumption of fast food and foods high in carbohydrates and low in fiber.

Diagnosis and treatment

What are the tests that are usually done to diagnose this disease?

A physical examination is needed to rule out other diseases that produce other symptoms that mimic the symptoms of appendicitis.

The doctor will start by doing a physical examination, looking at and feeling the lower right abdomen to find out whether the stomach feels hard or tender, and if there is pain when touched.

Apart from seeing the sensitivity, the doctor will perform the following tests.

• Urine test.
• Examination of the pelvis, to determine whether or not there are disturbances in female reproduction.
• Pregnancy test, if an ectopic pregnancy is suspected.
• Abdominal imaging, to detect abscesses or other complications, can be done with an X-ray, ultrasound or CT scan.
• Chest X-ray, to see the possibility of pneumonia in the lower right lobe, because the symptoms can mimic appendicitis.

What are the treatment options for appendicitis?

The treatment for appendicitis varies. In rare cases, appendicitis can get better without surgery. Treatment can only involve antibiotics and a fluid diet.

Meanwhile, most patients need surgery to recover from this disease. The type of surgery will depend on the details of your case.

If the appendix has left an abscess that hasn't burst, you may be given antibiotics for appendicitis first to prevent infection. Then, the doctor will remove the abscess with a tube that is inserted through the skin.

After that, the doctor will perform an operation to remove the appendix. This operation is known as an appendectomy. This procedure is of two types, namely:

• laparoscopic appendicectomy, performed using a tube (scope) that is inserted into the stomach to view and remove the appendix, and
  
• open appendectomy, done by making an incision in the lower right abdomen to remove the appendix

In mild cases, most people are treated for 1 day or can even go home the same day as the surgery.

For severe cases where the appendix has ruptured, the patient will be hospitalized longer and will be given antibiotic injections. The doctor will monitor for complications.

Home remedies

Below are lifestyle and home treatments that can help you deal with appendicitis.

1. Avoid strenuous activity

If the appendectomy was performed through a laparoscopy, limit your activities for 3-5 days. If you have an open appendectomy, limit your activities for 10 - 14 days.

Always ask your doctor about restrictions on activity and when you can return to normal activities after surgery.

2. Hold your stomach while coughing

Place a pillow on your stomach and apply pressure before you cough, laugh or move to help reduce pain.

3. Get up and move when you are ready

Start slowly and increase activity when you feel ready. Start by walking little by little and don't be too hasty.

4. Sleep when you feel tired

When your body is recovering, you may feel more sleepy than usual. Just relax and rest when you need it.

5. Eat foods that are high in fiber

Constipation can contribute to appendicitis. So, foods high in fiber are highly recommended.

Eating high-fiber foods such as beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, carrots, broccoli, peas, brown rice, oats, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and fruit, as well as other green vegetables are very good for helping to heal your condition.

6. Try natural remedies

You can also try natural remedies to relieve symptoms of appendicitis. Some ingredients such as castor oil and garlic are believed to help your condition.

Garlic with anti-inflammatory properties can reduce inflammation in the appendix, while castor oil can help overcome appendicitis.

However, you still have to consult your doctor about using natural ingredients to make sure these ingredients do not have a harmful effect.

Precautions and warnings

Is it true that appendicitis can recur?

In fact, until now the experts did not know the exact cause of appendicitis that recurred. There are several things that may cause appendicitis to recur and make you experience pain in the lower right abdomen.

A study in 2013 revealed that the chance of appendicitis recurrence could be due to appendicitis surgery, there are still remains or parts of the intestine that are still left behind.

Another study also stated the same thing. If the next infection occurs at the surgery site, it can be caused because there is still a part of the appendix that remains about 3-5 millimeters.

When appendicitis recurs, this will usually be treated by performing another appendectomy.

This is why when you feel pain like when you had appendicitis some time ago, immediately consult a doctor.

How can you prevent this condition from recurring?

Because it is not certain what causes this, in fact there are no specific provisions on how to prevent this condition of appendicitis.

However, you can do the following things to avoid complications after having an appendectomy for the first time.

• Continue to eat foods recommended by doctors and avoid foods that are taboo.
• After a successful appendectomy, eat more fiber to help improve digestion.
• Make sure your body is not dehydrated by drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day.
• Take good care of scars. If you are allowed to go home, you will come home with the surgical wound still 'wet'. It usually takes 2-3 weeks after surgery to heal properly. Frequently consult and have your wound checked by a doctor.
• Ask your doctor when you can resume physical activity. Each person has a different length of time. However, the average person who has had an appendectomy needs at least 4 weeks to recover.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.