Appendicitis:
It is an inflammation and swelling of the small organ attached to the large intestine in the lower right side of the abdomen. It mostly affects children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 20 and is rare in infants.
Reason for Appendicitis:
It occurs due to a blocked appendix where a lot of bacteria can grow and cause infection. Some of the reasons that may cause a blocked appendix are:
- Hard, rock-like stools (poop).
- Swollen lymph nodes in the intestine.
- Parasites and other infections.
- Bending or twisting of the appendix itself.
Risk Factors:
- Age: Most cases of appendicitis occur between the ages of 10 and 20.
- Having a family history of appendicitis.
Symptoms:
The first signs of appendicitis are often a mild fever and pain around the belly button. It may feel like just a stomachache, but with appendicitis the pain usually gets worse and radiates to the lower right side of the abdomen.
- Severe pain, mainly around the navel or in the lower right part of the abdomen (the pain may come and go at first, then return with steadiness and intensity)
- Anorexia
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea (in small amounts, especially with mucus)
- Flatulence.
If the pain spreads across the abdomen, it may mean that the appendix has burst (appendicitis ruptured), which is dangerous, as a severe temperature rise of up to 40 ° C is another sign of a burst appendix.
Complications:
If the infected appendix is not removed, it is likely to burst about 48 to 72 hours after symptoms first appear. This can spread bacteria within the body. The infection may form a large collection of pus (abscess) or spread throughout the abdomen.
Treatment:
The treatment is by surgery and the appendix is removed. As for children with a burst appendix, they need to stay in hospital for a longer period after the appendectomy. This gives the antibiotic time to kill any bacteria circulating in the body.
Protection:
There is no way to prevent appendicitis, but when children get proper medical care quickly, treatment can go away without problems.
Health guidelines for children, especially adolescents, for the health of the digestive system:
- Eat at regular hours.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Maintain regular physical activity.
- Chew food slowly and completely before swallowing.
- Relieve the need as soon as you feel it and do not delay.