Appendicitis is an inflammatory disease of the intestinal annexes called appendix and occurs due to obstruction causing infection and an increased bacterial growth. About 20-30% of the appendicitis cases in children evolve with abdominal perforation of the inflamed appendix.
The most coarse symptom of appendicitis is pain in the right lower abdominal quadrant due to the anatomical localization. Added symptoms are oftentimes nausea, vomiting, low fever and diarrhea or constipation according to case.
Appendicitis is ordinarily encountered in about 15% of the citizen and occurs mostly in the first two and last two decades of life. Every year, about 80000 Americans are diagnosed with appendicitis and about 50% of the children will have a curative history of appendicitis in their family. The appendix perforation occupies 30% of the cases and is mostly seen in children under the age of five.
A high percent of the cases of appendicitis are classical and can be diagnosed actually by history and a physical exam. Symptoms like pains in the right iliac fossa, vomiting, low fever, tenderness and rigidity of the abdominal area are commonly certainty signs for an acute appendicitis. In case of more vague and unclear symptoms, the Added investigations like ultrasonography and computer tomography can be beneficial to organize a inevitable diagnose. No way of diagnose has an accuracy of 100% and in some cases the only selection to make sure of appendicitis is gift is surgical intervention.
The only inherent cure of appendicitis is the extraction of the infected appendix by surgical means; in case of perforation, the surgical intervention can only be performed after a few days of ant biotherapy to treat the clinical signs of inflammation spread to the whole abdomen and called peritonitis.
At the starting of the operation, an anesthesiologist administrates the child a dose of sedatives and pain killers to induce the pediatric inpatient a pharmaceutical sleep. In classical interventions, a small incision is made in the right iliac fossa; if the surgical therapy is laparoscopic one, two smaller incisions are performed in separate areas of the abdomen. Both methods have advantages and risks and the parents or caretakers must discuss and choose the most approved way with the surgeon.
The surgical intervention commonly lasts less than one hour while the infected appendix is removed from the abdominal cavity and the infection fluids are washed out. In cases with Added complications a drain is left inside the abdomen to continue draining the infection fluid out of the abdomen. After surgery, the child must stay in the hospital for about1-2 days in easy cases and 5-7 days in cases of perforation; painkillers and antibiotics are administered for avoiding complications. Oral food can be regained step by step in the first days after surgery.
Children will require a week at home to recuperate from surgical operation and about 2-3 weeks without sport activities. If complications like fever, inordinate swelling in the incision area, bleedings or intense pains occurs, you must immediately call a doctor.
Diagnosing Appendicitis In Children