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Causes, signs and symptoms for appendicitis
The appendix is a cylindrical segment of the larger intestine localized in the right lower part of the abdomen. It has no important role in the human body but gets easily inflamed because of its content in imunitary cells.
Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix with no pharmacological method of treatment. The only cure is the surgical removal, an emergency case. By proper and in time treatment, patients with appendectomy can go back to their normal life in about two weeks; many persons get appendicitis but the risk is higher from10-30 years. If ignored, the appendix can perforate and lead to severe infection and even death.
The cause of appendicitis is the obstruction of the appendicle lumen leading to increased pressure, irregular blood circulation and inflammation of the mucous. The blockage must be resolved before it produces gangrene or perforation.
Obstruction is mostly caused by foreign bodies or by a viral or bacterial infection that cause lymph nodes to swell. This is medically called lymphoid hyperplasia. In a small number of persons appendicitis can be post-traumatically after accidents or injuries. Other people have a hereditary susceptibility to appendicle obstruction.
Appendicitis can include a multitude of common and rare symptoms like:
1. Pain around the navel then moving to the right ileac fossa.
2. Anorexia
3. Nausea and vomiting
4. Constipation or by case diarrhea
5. Stopped intestinal transit
6. Low fever
7. Abdominal swelling
Not all symptoms must be present to have a positive diagnosis. Pain gets worse while movements, coughing and deep breathing. The ileal area becomes very sensitive , it hurts when it is touched. Patients have so called”tenesmus”, meaning the sensation they need to eliminate fecals to diminish pains.
Persons with this kind of symptoms must see a doctor right away and not take any laxatives or painkillers as they might change the character of the pain.
Patients with the following preexistent pathology may not present the same symptoms as regular persons:
1. If undergoing immunosuppressive therapy with ex. Steroids
2. People with organ transplant
3. HIV-positives
4. Patients known with diabetes
5. Cancer-suffering patients or undergoing chemotherapy
Infants, young people and pregnant women have very distinct symptoms.
Pregnant women with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting due to the pregnancy don’t experience the classical symptoms. Sudden pain in the right abdomen can occur. Women during the last trimester of pregnancy are mostly at risk.
Children cannot always communicate with the physician and surgeons must base their diagnosis on the physical exam. They can present less specifically symptoms such as vomiting and weakness, anorexia and sleepy state. Constipation can occur but also stools with content of mucus.
Elder persons have smaller abdominal pains and less fever because the body is already tainted by other pathology. Commonly they feel pains when the appendix is almost perforated.
About the Author: For more resources about signs of appendicitis or even about chronic appendicitis please visit this website http://www.appendicitis-center.com/
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