Appendicitis symptoms in adults, early symptoms
Appendicitis refers to an inflammation of the appendix, which is a vermiform appendage, whose length varies from 5 to 15 cm.
In the distant past, the appendix in humans performed a digestive function, but with the evolutionary process it lost its original purpose and became a rudimentary organ, which, incidentally,still performs some minor functions.
Inflammation of the appendix is the most frequent abdominal disease, which is successfully treated surgically. Only in some cases appendicitis can lead to the development of serious complications or to death.
There are several theories that explain the development of appendicitis, namely:
As a result of obturation, mucus begins to accumulate in the appendix, there is swelling of its walls and acute inflammation develops. The diverse microflora of the large intestine, which falls into the appendix, adversely affects the walls of the appendage and thus necrosis of tissues arises, and purulent contents accumulate.
If at this stage you do not remove the inflamed appendix, perforation of the appendix wall may occur and all purulent contents appear in the abdominal cavity. This is a dangerous state for a person's life and requires an urgent hospitalization of the patient.
As already mentioned, stool stones, foreign bodies and parasites can enter the lumen of the appendix, rarely a lumen can transmit a tumor. But the most common case is the development of appendicitis as a result of obturation with calculous stones.
Of course, not everyone has had appendicitis. Experts associate cases of falling of fecal stones in the appendix with perennial chronic constipations of the patient, when the time of emptying the intestines increases significantly. This leads to an increase in the contents in the large intestine and, consequently, to a possible blockage in the lumen of the appendix.
It is worth noting that there are still no reasons why some people develop stool stones, while others do not. Also, the states that accurately affect the formation of fecal stones have not been studied, because not everyone who has suffered from chronic constipation for many years has encountered an inflammation of the appendix.
The following theory is infectious, in which it is supposed that appendicitis is caused by some infectious diseases, namely: tuberculosis, typhoid fever, iersiniosis, amebiasis, etc. But as in the case of mechanical theory, it is not completely clear why some people who are experiencing an infectious disease face appendicitis, while others do not.
Another theory explains the development of appendicitis as a result of the negative impact of systemic vasculitis - a group of diseases that are associated with pathological inflammation of blood vessels.
Endocrine theory notes the presence in the appendix of a variety of cells whose work can provoke inflammation.
Appendicitis, and its first symptoms manifest themselves through abdominal pain. In adults, it begins over the navel, in the epigastric region, but soon "pours" over the entire abdomen.
A person can not accurately determine the location of the pain, but then the pain passes to the right side of the abdomen, which is quite specific for appendicitis.
The intensity of pain is moderate and persistent, in rare cases severe and acute pains occur, which bring to the person a palpable discomfort. When moving, coughing and changing the position of the body, the pain sensations can briefly intensify.
But a short-term improvement in the person's state of health is a condition imaginary and arises as a result of the death of the nervous apparatus of the appendix. Usually, after this, if the patient does not turn in time for help, there comes a sharp perforation of the walls of the appendage with the further development of peritonitis.
In addition, there are cases of additional symptoms of appendicitis in adults, namely: nausea, short-term vomiting, fever, chills, diarrhea, lack of appetite. Of course, not every person with appendicitis has additional symptoms. In addition, there may be atypical symptoms, which is usually associated with an atypical location of the appendix.
There are a lot of signs that indicate the presence of appendicitis. For the most part, they are based on the manifestations of pain at different positions of the human body. Such signs are of diagnostic value and help specialists confirm the presence of an inflammation of the appendix.
Thus, the following first signs indicating appendicitis in adults can be distinguished:
When diagnosing appendicitis, it must be distinguished from other diseases of the internal organs that can give similar symptoms. Therefore, a number of studies are being conducted that confirm the inflammation of the appendix.
So, the doctor first of all collects the anamnesis of the disease, through which he learns about the transferred diseases, about the time of the onset of pain, about the nature of the pain, etc. A general examination is performed, which confirms the presence of specific signs of appendicitis.
In addition, the patient must pass clinical and biochemical blood analysis, feces and urine analysis, which fully show the condition of a person and provide information about the presence or absence of an inflammatory process.
Women must necessarily undergo examination of the gynecologist, as many diseases of female genital organs give the same symptomatology with appendicitis.
In some cases, the above diagnostic actions are sufficient to confirm appendicitis, after which it is surgically removed. But with contradictory results of the patient's research, they can send for ultrasound and radiography of the abdominal cavity, which may show indirect signs of appendicitis.
In most cases, the patient is hospitalized and left under observation for a day, during which the disease acquires a pronounced direction of development, and then a decision is made on the subsequent treatment.
Treatment of appendicitis is always based on surgical intervention. The appendix is removed by a traditional appendectomy, at which the incision is made, or by endoscopic surgery.
The therapeutic laparoscopy is less traumatic, leaves a small scar and reduces the risk of postoperative complications, but there is always the likelihood that the appendix will not be removed in this way, so a traditional operation may be required.
The main complication of appendicitis is the rupture of the appendix with the subsequent development of peritonitis, which is manifested in a sharp deterioration in human condition. Without emergency treatment, this condition leads to the death of a person.
In addition, sepsis may develop, in which toxins enter the blood of a person and thus develop a common inflammation. In some cases, the formation of thrombi with subsequent blockage of veins.
In addition, complications can occur after an operation to remove an appendix, for example:
In the distant past, the appendix in humans performed a digestive function, but with the evolutionary process it lost its original purpose and became a rudimentary organ, which, incidentally,still performs some minor functions.
Inflammation of the appendix is the most frequent abdominal disease, which is successfully treated surgically. Only in some cases appendicitis can lead to the development of serious complications or to death.
Causes of inflammation of the appendix
There are several theories that explain the development of appendicitis, namely:
- mechanical;
- is infectious;
- is vascular;
- is endocrine.
As a result of obturation, mucus begins to accumulate in the appendix, there is swelling of its walls and acute inflammation develops. The diverse microflora of the large intestine, which falls into the appendix, adversely affects the walls of the appendage and thus necrosis of tissues arises, and purulent contents accumulate.
If at this stage you do not remove the inflamed appendix, perforation of the appendix wall may occur and all purulent contents appear in the abdominal cavity. This is a dangerous state for a person's life and requires an urgent hospitalization of the patient.
As already mentioned, stool stones, foreign bodies and parasites can enter the lumen of the appendix, rarely a lumen can transmit a tumor. But the most common case is the development of appendicitis as a result of obturation with calculous stones.
Of course, not everyone has had appendicitis. Experts associate cases of falling of fecal stones in the appendix with perennial chronic constipations of the patient, when the time of emptying the intestines increases significantly. This leads to an increase in the contents in the large intestine and, consequently, to a possible blockage in the lumen of the appendix.
It is worth noting that there are still no reasons why some people develop stool stones, while others do not. Also, the states that accurately affect the formation of fecal stones have not been studied, because not everyone who has suffered from chronic constipation for many years has encountered an inflammation of the appendix.
The following theory is infectious, in which it is supposed that appendicitis is caused by some infectious diseases, namely: tuberculosis, typhoid fever, iersiniosis, amebiasis, etc. But as in the case of mechanical theory, it is not completely clear why some people who are experiencing an infectious disease face appendicitis, while others do not.
Another theory explains the development of appendicitis as a result of the negative impact of systemic vasculitis - a group of diseases that are associated with pathological inflammation of blood vessels.
Endocrine theory notes the presence in the appendix of a variety of cells whose work can provoke inflammation.
Signs and symptoms of appendicitis in adults
Appendicitis, and its first symptoms manifest themselves through abdominal pain. In adults, it begins over the navel, in the epigastric region, but soon "pours" over the entire abdomen.
A person can not accurately determine the location of the pain, but then the pain passes to the right side of the abdomen, which is quite specific for appendicitis.
The intensity of pain is moderate and persistent, in rare cases severe and acute pains occur, which bring to the person a palpable discomfort. When moving, coughing and changing the position of the body, the pain sensations can briefly intensify.
Particularly dangerous is the condition when the pain abruptly subsides. A person in such cases can think that the crisis has passed and the doctor can not be treated.
But a short-term improvement in the person's state of health is a condition imaginary and arises as a result of the death of the nervous apparatus of the appendix. Usually, after this, if the patient does not turn in time for help, there comes a sharp perforation of the walls of the appendage with the further development of peritonitis.
In addition, there are cases of additional symptoms of appendicitis in adults, namely: nausea, short-term vomiting, fever, chills, diarrhea, lack of appetite. Of course, not every person with appendicitis has additional symptoms. In addition, there may be atypical symptoms, which is usually associated with an atypical location of the appendix.
There are a lot of signs that indicate the presence of appendicitis. For the most part, they are based on the manifestations of pain at different positions of the human body. Such signs are of diagnostic value and help specialists confirm the presence of an inflammation of the appendix.
Thus, the following first signs indicating appendicitis in adults can be distinguished:
- pain and muscle tension in the right ileal region;
- feeling of raspiraniya in the right ileal region;
- intensification of painful sensations, if the person is in a supine position on the left side;
- pain enhancement with right femoral artery compression;
- relocation of pain;
- difficulties in raising the right leg, which is often accompanied by pain on the right side of the abdomen;
- increased pain when coughing and sudden exhalation.
Diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis in adults
When diagnosing appendicitis, it must be distinguished from other diseases of the internal organs that can give similar symptoms. Therefore, a number of studies are being conducted that confirm the inflammation of the appendix.
So, the doctor first of all collects the anamnesis of the disease, through which he learns about the transferred diseases, about the time of the onset of pain, about the nature of the pain, etc. A general examination is performed, which confirms the presence of specific signs of appendicitis.
In addition, the patient must pass clinical and biochemical blood analysis, feces and urine analysis, which fully show the condition of a person and provide information about the presence or absence of an inflammatory process.
Women must necessarily undergo examination of the gynecologist, as many diseases of female genital organs give the same symptomatology with appendicitis.
In some cases, the above diagnostic actions are sufficient to confirm appendicitis, after which it is surgically removed. But with contradictory results of the patient's research, they can send for ultrasound and radiography of the abdominal cavity, which may show indirect signs of appendicitis.
In most cases, the patient is hospitalized and left under observation for a day, during which the disease acquires a pronounced direction of development, and then a decision is made on the subsequent treatment.
Treatment of appendicitis is always based on surgical intervention. The appendix is removed by a traditional appendectomy, at which the incision is made, or by endoscopic surgery.
The therapeutic laparoscopy is less traumatic, leaves a small scar and reduces the risk of postoperative complications, but there is always the likelihood that the appendix will not be removed in this way, so a traditional operation may be required.
Complications of appendicitis
The main complication of appendicitis is the rupture of the appendix with the subsequent development of peritonitis, which is manifested in a sharp deterioration in human condition. Without emergency treatment, this condition leads to the death of a person.
In addition, sepsis may develop, in which toxins enter the blood of a person and thus develop a common inflammation. In some cases, the formation of thrombi with subsequent blockage of veins.
In addition, complications can occur after an operation to remove an appendix, for example:
- infection of an open wound with subsequent inflammation and suppuration;
- insolvency of seams;
- formation of adhesions between the peritoneum and internal organs;
- bleeding.