Probably one of the words most feared by many people, especially those who have had a case closely, mainly because it can become a really serious condition, and because it is – in fact one of the most common causes of emergency surgery. We speak of appendicitis, which medically is the inflammation of the appendix, a small pouch connected to the large intestine of approximately 8 centimeters approximately.
Usually it occurs when the opening of the appendix is blocked, either by the presence of feces or by a foreign body, and on rare occasions by the presence of a tumor. It can occur at any age, although it is much more common among 10 to 30 years, being more difficult to diagnose in children, women in fertile age and the elderly. In fact, in women of childbearing age it is much more difficult because certain gynecological disorders (such as an ectopic pregnancy, the process of ovulation during the menstrual cycle or torsion of an ovarian cyst) may present with abdominal pain without fever.
When the light of the appendix becomes blocked the inflammatory process, which, in turn, is exacerbated by bacterial infection caused by bacteria normally found in the large intestine. This increases the pressure inside the appendix, weakening the wall and causing its ruptured appendix.
It is a medical emergency that must be treated as soon as possible, given that between 24 to 48 hours from the onset of symptoms tends to produce the peroration, which can cause abdominal abscess, diffuse peritonitis and in severe cases pylephlebitis. In fact, if you continue without surgery the appendix breaks releasing all of its contents into the abdominal cavity, in a way that to the form both in the appendix as it’s around can move into the bloodstream.
The signals that can alert on a appendicitis
Usually we have a difficult condition to treat because the symptoms of appendicitis vary. However, the first symptom is pain that is around the navel. It is a mild pain at the beginning, to be slowly becoming more acute and severe.
The pain moves to the lower right part of the abdomen, focusing at a point on the appendix, known as the McBurney’s point (found between the outer third and the inner two-thirds of an imaginary line located between the navel and right superior iliac spine). During the palpation pain has its greatest intensity at this point. On the other hand, the pain may get worse by making rapid movements, walking or coughing.
Other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting may also occur, which in many cases, the diagnosis can be confused with other gastrointestinal conditions, such as is the case of gastroenteritis. The same goes for Crohn’s disease, which causes pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen.