Symptoms of appendicitis in detail
The appendix is located on the right side in the lower abdomen when both the small and large intestine meet together. The appendix may become inflamed as a result of a blockage that may result from the accumulation of mucus, parasites, or stool, and infection that multiplies rapidly leading to the symptoms of appendicitis that we will learn about In detail in the following lines.
Symptoms of appendicitis
Appendicitis causes the following symptoms:
Abdominal pain
Abdominal pain is the most common symptom, and the following are symptoms of appendicitis:
- The pain begins near the navel and moves down to the right side.
- The pain starts suddenly and may wake you from sleep.
- The pain worsens with movement, deep breaths, coughing or sneezing.
- The pain is very severe, and some patients describe this pain as having never felt such pain before.
- The pain appears before other symptoms appear, and worsens over time.
One source explains that some people have the appendix behind the colon, which means they may experience lower back pain or pelvic pain when they have appendicitis.
mild fever
Some patients suffer from a high temperature, ranging between 37.2 and 38 degrees Celsius, and the patient may experience shivering, however, the temperature rises more than that when a rupture occurs.
Digestive disorders
Symptoms of appendicitis related to the digestive system include:
- feeling sick, vomiting;
- Anorexia.
- diarrhea or constipation;
- Difficulty passing gases.
Not all patients with appendicitis have the same symptoms, but a doctor should be consulted as soon as they appear.
Mild (chronic) appendicitis symptoms
Chronic appendicitis is a rare disease, and it can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms come and go, and may also be mild. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom, and may be the only symptom in some cases. It also begins near the navel and spreads to the right side. Mild, but can also become severe.
It may be accompanied by other symptoms, and you should go to the doctor when these symptoms appear, especially if they are severe:
- fever.
- Abdominal swelling.
- Feeling tired and lethargic.
- feeling uncomfortable
- nausea;
- diarrhea.
Symptoms of appendicitis in women
Sometimes the symptoms of excess are confused with the symptoms of other problems in women, such as:
As for pregnant women, symptoms may be similar to common symptoms in pregnancy such as abdominal cramps, vomiting, and nausea, and one source explains that pregnant women do not suffer from the same common symptoms, especially in the later stages of pregnancy, as the large extra uterus pushes up, making pain The inflamed appendix is located in the upper abdomen, rather than the lower abdomen.
The source adds that pregnant women may also suffer from acidity, gas, and varying episodes of diarrhea and constipation.
General prescription, sources stress the importance of going to the doctor to get the correct diagnosis as soon as you feel constant pain in the abdomen.
Symptoms of appendicitis in children
Symptoms of the inflamed appendix in children represent a great challenge, as the child cannot express what he feels, and cannot point to the exact location of the pain, or describes the pain as spreading throughout his stomach, which makes it more difficult to diagnose appendicitis, and parents usually mistake it for a problem stomach, or urethral infection.
Given the seriousness of the complications of the appendix mentioned previously, the sources stress that the child’s complaint should not be ignored, especially with a high temperature, and a visit to the doctor immediately.
Symptoms of appendicitis in the elderly
Although appendicitis is not the most common condition in the elderly, but it affects some of them, and requires surgical treatment as well, and this depends on the general health condition, and comorbidities, and according to research published in one of the sources, it shows that the most common symptoms in adults are:
- Pain in the lower abdomen.
- Right iliac fossa pain (in the pelvic bones).
- Nausea and vomiting.
- High temperature.
The chances of elderly people developing symptoms of peritonitis, including severe pain, flatulence, and a doctor should be consulted immediately when any of the above symptoms appear.
The severity of appendicitis
If you do not get medical advice as soon as the symptoms of the appendix appear, the risk of its rupture increases after 48 to 72 hours, resulting in the spread of bacteria in the abdominal cavity, and serious problems such as peritonitis, pus, and blood poisoning must be obtained. See a doctor immediately after symptoms appear.