What are the signs of appendicitis in kids. How is appendicitis diagnosed in children. What causes appendicitis in children. How is appendicitis treated in kids and teens. Can appendicitis be prevented in children. What complications can occur with appendicitis in kids. Who is most at risk for appendicitis in children.

Understanding Appendicitis in Children: An Overview

Appendicitis is a medical condition that occurs when the appendix, a small organ attached to the large intestine, becomes blocked and infected. While it can affect people of all ages, appendicitis is particularly common in children and teenagers between 5 and 20 years old. As a parent, it’s crucial to recognize the signs and symptoms of appendicitis, as early detection and treatment are essential for preventing serious complications.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Appendicitis in Kids

The initial symptoms of appendicitis in children can be subtle and may mimic other common ailments. However, there are specific signs parents should be aware of:

• Mild fever
• Pain around the belly button that intensifies and moves to the lower right side
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea (often with mucus)
• Swollen belly

Is appendicitis pain constant in children? The pain may initially come and go but typically becomes steady and intense as the condition progresses.

Common Causes of Appendicitis in Children

Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes blocked, leading to bacterial overgrowth and infection. Several factors can contribute to this blockage:

• Hard, rock-like stool
• Swollen lymph nodes in the intestines
• Parasites and other infections

Can children catch appendicitis from others? No, appendicitis is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from person to person.

Diagnosing Appendicitis in Children: What Parents Should Know

Diagnosing appendicitis in children can be challenging, as its symptoms often resemble other medical conditions. Doctors typically follow a comprehensive approach to confirm the diagnosis:

1. Physical examination of the abdomen
2. Blood tests
3. Urine tests
4. Imaging studies (X-rays, ultrasound, or CAT scan)

Why is diagnosing appendicitis in children difficult? The symptoms of appendicitis can be similar to those of other medical problems, such as kidney stones, pneumonia, or urinary tract infections, making accurate diagnosis crucial.

Treatment Options for Appendicitis in Kids and Teens

Once appendicitis is diagnosed, prompt treatment is essential to prevent complications. The primary treatment for appendicitis is surgical removal of the infected appendix, known as an appendectomy. Here’s what parents should know about the procedure:

• Surgeons often use laparoscopy, a minimally invasive technique
• The surgery is performed through small incisions in the belly
• Most children stay in the hospital for about a day after the procedure
• Intravenous fluids and antibiotics are administered before and after surgery
• Pain medication is provided as needed

How long does it take for a child to recover from an appendectomy? While every child’s recovery is unique, most kids start feeling better within a few days to a week after surgery.

Potential Complications of Untreated Appendicitis in Children

If left untreated, appendicitis can lead to serious complications. The most significant risk is a ruptured appendix, which typically occurs 48 to 72 hours after symptoms first appear. A burst appendix can result in:

• Widespread infection in the abdominal cavity
• Formation of abscesses (pus-filled pockets)
• Prolonged hospital stay and recovery time
• Increased risk of complications

How can parents recognize a ruptured appendix in their child? A high fever reaching 104째F (40째C) and pain spreading across the entire belly are potential signs of a burst appendix.

Prevention and Risk Factors: What Parents Should Know

While there is no known way to prevent appendicitis, understanding the risk factors can help parents stay vigilant:

• Age: Appendicitis is most common in children and teens between 5 and 20 years old
• Family history: Some studies suggest a genetic predisposition to appendicitis
• Diet: A low-fiber diet may increase the risk of appendicitis

Are certain children more susceptible to appendicitis? While appendicitis can affect any child, it is rare in infants and more common in older children and teenagers.

The Importance of Timely Medical Care

Early detection and treatment of appendicitis are crucial for preventing complications and ensuring a smooth recovery. Parents should seek immediate medical attention if they suspect their child may have appendicitis. Prompt medical care can help avoid serious consequences and lead to better outcomes for children with this condition.

Recovery and Post-Surgery Care for Children with Appendicitis

After an appendectomy, proper care is essential for a child’s recovery. Here are some key points for parents to keep in mind:

• Rest is crucial in the first few days following surgery
• Follow the doctor’s instructions regarding pain management and wound care
• Gradually reintroduce normal activities as advised by the healthcare team
• Watch for signs of infection or complications
• Attend follow-up appointments as scheduled

How long does it take for a child to fully recover from appendicitis surgery? While recovery times vary, most children feel back to normal within 2-4 weeks after the procedure.

Emotional Support During Recovery

It’s important to remember that recovering from appendicitis and surgery can be emotionally challenging for children. Parents should provide reassurance, support, and age-appropriate explanations about the condition and recovery process. Encouraging open communication and addressing any concerns or fears can help ease anxiety and promote a smoother recovery.

When to Seek Emergency Care for Suspected Appendicitis

Recognizing when to seek immediate medical attention is crucial for parents. Emergency care should be sought if a child exhibits the following symptoms:

• Severe abdominal pain, especially in the lower right side
• High fever (above 101째F or 38.3째C)
• Persistent vomiting
• Signs of dehydration
• Abdominal swelling or bloating
• Inability to pass gas or have a bowel movement

Why is prompt medical attention crucial for suspected appendicitis in children? Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications such as a ruptured appendix and widespread infection, leading to better outcomes and faster recovery.

The Role of Pediatric Specialists in Treating Appendicitis

When dealing with appendicitis in children, pediatric specialists play a crucial role in ensuring the best possible care. Pediatric surgeons and gastroenterologists have specialized training in diagnosing and treating appendicitis in young patients. Their expertise can lead to more accurate diagnoses, appropriate treatment plans, and better overall outcomes for children with this condition.

Long-Term Outlook for Children Who Have Had Appendicitis

The long-term prognosis for children who have experienced appendicitis is generally excellent, especially when the condition is diagnosed and treated promptly. Here are some key points about the long-term outlook:

• Most children recover fully without any lasting effects
• The risk of recurrence is extremely low, as the appendix is removed
• Regular check-ups can help monitor for any potential long-term complications
• Children can usually return to normal activities within a few weeks after surgery

Are there any long-term dietary restrictions for children who have had appendicitis? Generally, there are no specific long-term dietary restrictions following recovery from appendicitis. However, maintaining a healthy, balanced diet rich in fiber can promote overall digestive health.

Impact on Future Health and Well-being

Having appendicitis as a child does not typically have any significant impact on future health or well-being. However, the experience can sometimes lead to increased awareness of overall health and the importance of seeking medical attention when needed. Parents can use this experience as an opportunity to educate their children about listening to their bodies and communicating health concerns effectively.

Educating Children About Appendicitis and Body Awareness

After experiencing appendicitis, it’s beneficial for parents to have age-appropriate discussions with their children about the condition and overall body awareness. This can include:

• Explaining what happened in simple terms
• Discussing the importance of paying attention to body signals
• Encouraging children to communicate when they feel unwell
• Promoting healthy habits that support overall well-being

How can parents help children develop body awareness? Encourage regular check-ins about how they’re feeling, teach them to identify and describe different sensations, and model good health practices.

Building Resilience Through Health Challenges

Overcoming appendicitis can be an opportunity for children to build resilience and develop coping skills. Parents can support this process by:

• Praising their child’s bravery during the experience
• Discussing how they overcame the challenge
• Encouraging a positive outlook on health and recovery
• Helping them see how they’ve grown from the experience

Advances in Appendicitis Treatment for Children

Medical research continues to advance our understanding and treatment of appendicitis in children. Some recent developments and areas of ongoing research include:

• Improved diagnostic techniques to reduce misdiagnosis
• Less invasive surgical procedures for faster recovery
• Exploration of non-surgical treatments for certain cases of appendicitis
• Better pain management strategies for pediatric patients

What new treatments are being developed for appendicitis in children? Researchers are investigating the use of antibiotics as a primary treatment for some cases of uncomplicated appendicitis, potentially avoiding surgery in certain situations.

The Future of Appendicitis Care

As medical technology and understanding continue to evolve, the future of appendicitis care for children looks promising. Potential advancements may include:

• More accurate and faster diagnostic tools
• Personalized treatment plans based on genetic factors
• Minimally invasive techniques for even faster recovery
• Improved prevention strategies

These ongoing developments underscore the importance of staying informed about the latest advancements in pediatric care and maintaining open communication with healthcare providers.

Appendicitis In Kids and Teens (for Parents)

en español: La apendicitis en niños y adolescentes

Reviewed by: Ryan J. Brogan, DO

Primary Care Pediatrics at Nemours Children’s Health

What Is Appendicitis? 

Appendicitis is when the appendix gets blocked and becomes infected.

The appendix is a small organ attached to the large intestine in the lower right side of the belly.

Appendicitis is an emergency. It’s important to know what to look for and get medical care right away.

What Causes Appendicitis?

When the appendix gets blocked, too much bacteria can grow and cause an infection. Some of the things that might block the appendix are:

• hard, rock-like stool (poop)
• swollen lymph nodes in the intestines
• parasites and other infections

Appendicitis is not contagious. Kids can’t catch it from someone who has it.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Appendicitis?

The first signs of appendicitis are often a mild fever and pain around the belly button. It might seem like just a stomachache. But with appendicitis, the pain usually gets worse and moves to the lower right side of the belly.

If your child has belly pain, be on the lookout for these signs of appendicitis: 

• strong pain, mainly around the belly button or in the lower right part of the belly (the pain might come and go at first, then grow steady and intense)
• low-grade fever
• loss of appetite
• nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (throwing up)
• diarrhea (especially small amounts, with mucus)
• swollen belly

If pain spreads across the belly, it may mean the appendix has burst. Doctors call this ruptured appendicitis, and it’s serious. A high fever reaching 104°F (40°C) is another sign of a burst appendix.  

Call your doctor right away if you think your child has appendicitis. The sooner it’s caught, the easier it will be to treat.

What Problems Can Happen With Appendicitis?

If an infected appendix isn’t removed, it has the potential to burst about 48 to 72 hours after symptoms first start. This can spread
bacteriainside the body. The infection might form a large collection of pus (an abscess) or spread throughout the belly.

Who Gets Appendicitis?

Appendicitis mostly affects kids and teens between 5 and 20 years old. It is rare in infants.

How Is Appendicitis Diagnosed?

The symptoms of appendicitis can be a lot like those of other medical problems (like kidney stones, pneumonia, or a urinary tract infection). So it can be a challenge for doctors to diagnose.

To find out if a child has appendicitis, a doctor will examine the belly for signs of pain and tenderness. The doctor will order blood tests and urine tests. Some kids also get an X-ray of the abdomen and chest, an ultrasound, or a CAT scan.

The medical team may tell you not to give your child any food or drink. This is in case your child needs surgery.

How Is Appendicitis Treated?

A surgeon will operate to take out the infected appendix. This is called an appendectomy. Most of the time, surgeons use a small device called a laparoscope to remove the appendix through a small cut on the belly. Kids who get this surgery usually stay in the hospital for a day.

The care team may give your child intravenous (IV) fluids and antibiotics before and after surgery. This helps prevent problems such as an infection. Kids get pain medicine if they need it.

A child who had a burst appendix might need to stay in the hospital longer after an appendectomy. That gives the antibiotics time to kill any bacteria that spread into the body.

Can Appendicitis Be Prevented?

There is no way to prevent appendicitis. But when kids get the right medical care quickly, doctors usually find and treat it without problems.

Reviewed by: Ryan J. Brogan, DO

Date reviewed: April 2022

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Caring for Your Child After an Appendectomy (for Parents)

en español: Cuidar de su hijo después de una apendicectomía

Reviewed by: Loren Berman, MD

Pediatric General Surgery at Nemours Children’s Health

After an appendectomy (surgery to remove the appendix), your child will need to rest. It takes a few weeks to feel back to normal again.

What Should I Expect?

Most kids recover well at home after an appendectomy. In the first few days after surgery, here are some things you might notice — and what you can do:

• Pain. Your child probably will have belly pain. Kids who had laparoscopic surgery also might have shoulder pain. Ease your child’s pain by using the medicine that the surgeon recommended. If the pain gets worse or does not get better after using the pain medicine, call your surgeon.
• Lack of appetite. Your child might not feel like eating after surgery. Start with clear liquids like chicken broth and water. When your child feels a bit hungrier, offer bland foods like crackers. Don’t force your child to eat. If your child isn’t drinking anything or hasn’t started eating by 2 days after the surgery, call your surgeon.
• Lack of energy. It’s normal for kids to feel tired for a few days after surgery. Let your child rest as needed. Call your surgeon if your child doesn’t start to have more energy by about a week after surgery.
• Sore throat. The breathing tube used during anesthesia can leave kids with a sore throat. The pain should go away in a day or two. Offer your child ice chips and cool drinks to soothe the pain.
• Constipation. It can take a few days to have a bowel movement (poop). As kids start to drink and eat again, they should go back to having normal bowel movements. Call your surgeon if your child has not pooped by 2 days after the surgery. Sometimes the surgeon will recommend a mild laxative (medicine that makes a person poop).
• Fever. Some children may have a low fever of around 99°F (37°C) in the first day or two after surgery. It should go away within 2 days. Call the surgeon if your child has a temperature of 101.5°F (38.6°C) or higher. This could be a sign of an infection.

How Can I Help My Child?

To help your child feel better faster, follow your surgeon’s instructions for:

• when and what your child can eat
• which medicine to give for pain
• other medicines to give, if any
• bathing
• which activities are OK
• when to come back for a follow-up visit

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Call your surgeon if your child:

• has a fever of 101. 5°F (38.6°C) or higher
• has redness, swelling, or pus draining from any of the incisions (cuts)
• has pain that gets worse or doesn’t get better after taking pain medicine
• is vomiting (throwing up)
• will not drink
• doesn’t start eating by 1–2 days after surgery
• hasn’t had a bowel movement (pooped) by 2 days after the surgery
• has diarrhea

If your child has any of these problems, your surgeon may want to see your child or ask you to go to your pediatrician, visit urgent care, or have a telemedicine visit.

It’s rare for kids to have serious problems after an appendectomy. But if the doctor thinks your child needs attention right away, they will tell you to take your child to the emergency room (ER).

Reviewed by: Loren Berman, MD

Date reviewed: January 2023

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Appendicitis in children.

Causes of occurrence

Appendicitis in children is an emergency condition: if timely medical care is not provided, this can lead to serious complications and death of the child.

The appendix is ​​located at the very beginning of the large intestine and departs from its department, which is called the caecum. Surgery for acute appendicitis – appendectomy – is one of the most common surgical interventions in pediatric surgery.

Often parents use the not entirely correct term “inflammation of appendicitis in a child.” So, before discussing the disease further, remember: “appendix” is an organ, “appendicitis” is inflammation in it.

Acute appendicitis can occur at any age, but is more common in children. Babies under three years old suffer from it relatively rarely. According to the Russian Association of Pediatric Surgeons, the prevalence of pathology in this age group is 8%. The incidence begins to increase after 7 years and peaks at 9-12 years old. In general, acute appendicitis in Russia is diagnosed in 3-6 children out of a thousand per year. It occurs approximately equally in boys and girls. Foreign experts give similar statistics. For example, about 70,000 cases of acute appendicitis are diagnosed annually in the United States. The incidence up to 4 years is 1-4 cases per 10 thousand children, in the group from 10 to 17 years – 25 cases per 10 thousand. Surgeons remove the appendix during a lifetime in 7% of Americans.

Causes

The appendix is ​​a small process of the intestine about 10 cm long. Normally, it is located in the lower right part of the abdomen (the so-called iliac region), but its length and position may vary. Previously, it was considered an “unnecessary” organ, something like an atavism. It is currently known to serve two functions:

• This is the immune organ . The appendix has lymphoid tissue and is like tonsils in the intestines
• The appendix accumulates beneficial bacteria and “reboots” the intestinal microflora after intestinal infections

If you remove the appendix, then this will not affect the functioning of the body and the state of health. Perhaps this is for the best: after all, during acute appendicitis, it is urgent to eliminate the focus of inflammation in order to prevent serious complications.

So what are the main causes of appendicitis in children? Although the disease is very common, the exact causes and mechanisms of its development are not completely clear. There are several theories:

• The obstructive theory states that inflammation develops when the lumen of the process is blocked – most often by hyperplastic lymphoid tissue (similar to enlarged adenoids) or dense fecal masses. In turn, dehydration or viral infections can lead to hyperplasia of the lymphoid tissue.
• Infectious theory as the main argument that sometimes cases of acute appendicitis occur in the form of a kind of outbreaks.
• The hereditary theory emerged when it was noted that the risk was likely increased if appendicitis was previously diagnosed in first-line relatives.

The exact cause of the disease is still unclear, but this does not prevent pediatric surgeons from successfully treating acute appendicitis in children.

Pathogenesis

According to the prevailing ideas at the moment, initially the problem is caused by blockage of the appendix. As a result, bacteria begin to multiply in it, and it stretches. It develops venous congestion, ischemia (impaired blood supply). This is what causes inflammation. In turn, it can progress to necrosis and gangrene. There is a perforation of the appendix: a through hole is formed in its wall. This leads to a dangerous condition – inflammation of the sheets of the peritoneum (peritonitis). After a perforation, the symptoms temporarily decrease because the pressure in the appendix is ​​relieved. But this is an imaginary improvement.

As the inflammation in the appendix increases, an inflammatory fluid, an exudate, appears on its surface. It irritates the thin membrane rich in nerve endings inside the abdominal cavity – the peritoneum. Because of this, the pain becomes stronger and localized – it is more clearly felt at the bottom right. And the doctor during the examination of the child detects symptoms of irritation of the peritoneum.

Classification

Appendicitis can be acute or chronic. Most often, doctors have to deal with the former. It is developing rapidly. Chronic appendicitis is an indolent inflammation. In this article, we will mainly talk about acute appendicitis. It is divided into the following types, depending on what changes occur in the appendix:

1. Non-destructive – it is also called simple or catarrhal. In this case, the inflammation is superficial, affecting only the mucous membrane. This type reflects the initial stages of the inflammatory process and is the most difficult to diagnose.

2. Destructive appendicitis is divided into two varieties:

• Phlegmonous – purulent inflammation in the appendix.
• Gangrenous – when necrosis and gangrene already develop in the wall of the appendix.

In addition, depending on whether complications have developed , two forms of appendicitis are distinguished:

• uncomplicated
• complicated

Symptoms

Pediatric surgeons often list acute appendicitis as one of the simplest and at the same time one of the most difficult diagnoses. Indeed, it can hide under the guise of a number of other diseases. If the doctor has doubts, then he is in no hurry to immediately perform an appendectomy, but leaves him in the clinic for a while and monitors his condition. If the symptoms intensify and the clinical picture becomes clear, an operation is performed immediately.

It is important for parents to know that some “special” signs of appendicitis in children are not so much important as the order in which symptoms appear:

1. Usually abdominal pain starts first . At first, the child cannot say exactly where she is bothering. At an older age, after some time, the pain usually “descends” to the right iliac region, and in a small child, the entire abdomen or the area around the navel may hurt all the time. Appendicitis pain in infants is difficult to recognize, because they cannot tell what is bothering them. Instead, the child becomes capricious, refuses to eat, does not allow touching the stomach.

2. Pain is followed by such symptoms as refusal to eat, nausea, vomiting .

3. If after that the adults try to feel the child’s belly , then it turns out to be very painful for him .

4. Subsequently, the temperature rises – usually from 37.7 to 38.3 ° C.

Symptoms of appendicitis in teenagers are easier to recognize because they are more obvious, and at an older age the child can talk more about them.

Often, acute appendicitis must be distinguished from viral gastroenteritis, and in these diseases the sequence is different: vomiting usually appears first, and only after it, abdominal pain and frequent loose stools. But self-diagnosis in any case should not be done. Seek immediate medical attention .

When should I see a doctor?

With the symptoms listed above, it is better to immediately consult a doctor, and if the child feels very unwell, call an ambulance. Intense and increasing pain in the abdomen should be especially alert. If the symptoms are not strong, you can contact a pediatrician: if a child has manifestations of the so-called acute abdomen, he will immediately invite a pediatric surgeon to examine him.

Possible complications

If timely surgical treatment is not carried out, then the appendix can rupture, and this will lead to one of two complications:

• Abscess – limited accumulation of pus and infection in the abdominal cavity
• Peritonitis – diffuse inflammation in the abdomen

The likelihood that the appendix will rupture is very high: this occurs in about 90% of children under two years of age and 65% of children under five years of age. The risk of appendix perforation in children within 24 hours from the onset of the first symptoms, according to some reports, is 7.7%, and within 72 hours this will happen with almost one hundred percent probability.

Diagnostic methods

Acute appendicitis is mostly a clinical diagnosis. The doctor installs it after examining the child. He palpates (feels) the abdomen, reveals soreness, tension in the muscles of the press, symptoms of irritation of the peritoneum. The most famous of these symptoms, which is taught first of all to all medical students, is the Shchetkin-Blumberg symptom.

If you slowly press your fingers on the abdominal wall, and then release it sharply, this leads to the fact that the irritated sheets of the peritoneum “peel off” from each other, and there is a strong pain sensation.

A general blood test is prescribed: an elevated level of leukocytes is found in it.

Diagnosis of appendicitis in children is often difficult, because its symptoms often hide diseases such as viral gastroenteritis, intestinal intussusception, Crohn’s disease, Meckel’s diverticulum, pancreatic (pancreatic) colic, familial Mediterranean fever.

If the diagnosis is unclear, then diagnostic methods such as ultrasound of the abdominal organs, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging can be prescribed. As we mentioned above, with an unclear clinical picture, the surgeon can leave the child in the hospital for a while, observe him, and prescribe antibiotics.

In case of strong doubts, the surgeon will most likely decide to operate, and rightly so: it is better to play it safe than to do nothing and thereby endanger the life of the patient. Also, in doubtful cases, diagnostic laparoscopy can be performed: the doctor inserts an instrument with a video camera (laparoscope) into the abdominal cavity through a puncture, examines it, and this helps to figure out if there is a need for an operation.

Methods of treatment

Acute appendicitis is treated by removal of the appendix – appendectomy . It is cut off at the base, and the hole remaining in the intestine is closed with a purse-string suture. Such an operation is carried out on an emergency basis. Classically, it is performed through a small oblique incision in the right iliac region, but modern surgeons are increasingly resorting to laparoscopic interventions – through punctures in the abdominal wall. The operation can last from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. Every pediatric surgeon knows how to perform it – usually this is the very first intervention, which is taught to beginner doctors in this specialty.

If the appendicitis was uncomplicated, then the child spends one night in the hospital, and he is discharged home. If the appendix was perforated, then you will have to spend about five days in the clinic and receive antibiotic treatment.

Forecast

If treatment is carried out in a timely manner, then the prognosis is usually favorable. 0.1% of children die (one in a thousand), in 3% of cases after surgery, certain complications develop. If the operation is performed after the rupture of the appendix, then the complication rate is 10-15%. Such situations are most common in children under two years of age, since it is more difficult to diagnose the disease in them in a timely manner.

Prevention

Since the causes of the development of the disease are not fully understood, there is no special prevention of appendicitis. A complete healthy diet with a predominance of plant products is recommended, as well as prevention of constipation. Antibiotics should not be used uncontrollably.

Main

• Acute appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix and is one of the most common surgical diseases in children.
• The causes of the disease are not fully known. It is believed that the obstruction of the appendix with dense fecal masses and hyperplastic (increased in volume) lymphoid tissue plays an important role.
• The main manifestations of acute appendicitis: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever. But they are nonspecific and are found in many other diseases.
• In case of suspicious symptoms, take the child to the doctor immediately.
• Pediatric surgeons deal with the treatment and diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Usually the diagnosis can be established by the results of the examination of the child.
• In acute appendicitis, surgical removal of the appendix is ​​indicated – appendectomy. It can be done through an incision or incisions in the abdominal wall (laparoscopically).
• The prognosis is favorable if the operation is performed on time. The later treatment is started, the higher the risk of serious complications.
• There are no specific preventive measures.

Sources:

1. Smirnov A.K., Boyko A.V., Elkova D.A. Acute appendicitis in children // Scientist, 2022
2. Barkhatova N.A. Acute appendicitis and abdominal sepsis in children // Pediatric Bulletin of the South Urals, 2016
3. Brzhozovsky A.G. Appendicitis: monograph. // Kuibyshev State Medical Institute, 2021
4. Komarov F.I. Diagnosis and treatment of internal diseases // Medicine, 2017
5. Kolesov V.I. Acute appendicitis // Book on Demand, 2020

Symptoms of appendicitis in children of different ages

Be very attentive to your children, to their health and behavior. Sometimes seemingly normal symptoms can be signs of a serious illness that needs immediate treatment. This disease is appendicitis.

Children under one year old

It is a misconception that children under one year old do not have appendix inflammation.

Children older than 2-3 months are at risk:

• if they were introduced to complementary foods incorrectly or too early;
• if the mixture is changed too often;
• if there are problems with the gastrointestinal tract or the enzymatic system;
• if the child is given smoked or salty food, even in very small quantities;
• if there is frequent stool retention caused by malnutrition.

Symptoms of appendicitis in children under the age of are very similar to symptoms of intestinal infection:

• fever up to 38 or subfebrile;
• vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• refusal to eat, hysterical crying.

An infant with these symptoms should be seen by a pediatrician and surgeon immediately to avoid missing an aggravation of the disease.

Children under 3 years old

In children from 1 to 3 years of age, the onset of the disease begins with changes in behavior, and this is easy to notice.

Child:

• categorically refuses even the most favorite food;
• does not sleep;
• is constantly moody and lethargic.

The most revealing – the first night after the onset of inflammation. The child cannot sleep normally, screams and is naughty, constantly jumps up.

Symptoms of appendicitis in children under 3 years of age:

• severe abdominal pain;
• high temperature up to 40°;
• there may be (but not necessarily) nausea and vomiting;
• possible diarrhea with mucus in the stool or stool retention;
• abdominal pain when urinating.

He cannot yet explain exactly where the baby hurts, it will seem to him that it hurts everywhere. Pain manifests itself as follows:

• when touching the navel;
• when tilted to the right;
• when dressing;
• when trying to lie on the right side;
• when squatting;
• the child is trying to take a comfortable position and pull the right leg to the body.

Appendicitis in these babies is rare, but any severe pain in the abdomen is a reason to consult a doctor, not to mention the combination of several symptoms.

Children over 3 years old

Children at this age can tolerate a little pain. Therefore, the very beginning of the inflammatory process can be overlooked. But on the other hand, they can already show more accurately where exactly the stomach hurts. If it is just above the navel, this may be the beginning of appendicitis, and if it is in the lower abdomen, on the right, then this is already more serious. In any case, you can not hesitate for a minute.

Symptoms of appendicitis in children older than 3 years are similar to children younger:

• worsening abdominal pain: first two fingers above the navel, then below and to the right;
• high temperature;
• repeated nausea and vomiting;
• stool retention, rarely diarrhoea.

Pain is manifested as follows:

• more pronounced if the child lies on the right side;
• is localized from the navel down and to the right;
• pain comes on even from a light touch;
• if you press on the lower and right side of the abdomen with several fingers and sharply remove them, the child will feel a sharp pain.

In children older than 7 years, as a rule, the symptoms are the same. Most often, inflammation of the appendix occurs in children 14-19 years old, less often in 9-13 years old.