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Belly button appendicitis. Appendicitis in Children: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Guide

What are the signs of appendicitis in kids. How is appendicitis diagnosed in children. What causes appendicitis in young patients. When should parents seek medical care for suspected appendicitis. How is pediatric appendicitis treated.

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Understanding Appendicitis in Children

Appendicitis is a medical condition that occurs when the appendix becomes blocked and infected. The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch connected to the large intestine on the lower right side of the abdomen. While appendicitis can affect people of all ages, it is most common in children and teens between 5 and 20 years old.

Is appendicitis contagious? No, appendicitis cannot be transmitted from one person to another. It is an internal condition caused by blockage and infection within an individual’s own body.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Appendicitis in Kids

The early signs of appendicitis can be subtle and may mimic other conditions. Parents should be vigilant for the following symptoms:

  • Mild fever
  • Pain around the navel that moves to the lower right abdomen
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea (often with mucus)
  • Abdominal swelling

Does appendicitis pain come and go? Initially, the pain may be intermittent, but it typically becomes more constant and severe as the condition progresses.

Red Flags: When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Parents should be on high alert if their child experiences:

  • Intense abdominal pain, especially in the lower right quadrant
  • High fever (104°F/40°C or higher)
  • Pain that spreads across the entire abdomen

These symptoms may indicate a ruptured appendix, which is a serious complication requiring urgent medical intervention.

Causes and Risk Factors of Pediatric Appendicitis

Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes blocked, allowing bacteria to multiply and cause infection. Common causes of blockage include:

  1. Hard, compacted stool
  2. Enlarged lymph nodes in the intestines
  3. Parasites or other infections

While appendicitis can affect children of all ages, it is rare in infants. The condition is most prevalent in the 5-20 age range, with a peak incidence during the teenage years.

Diagnosing Appendicitis in Young Patients

Diagnosing appendicitis in children can be challenging, as its symptoms often resemble other medical conditions. How do doctors confirm appendicitis? The diagnostic process typically involves:

  • Physical examination of the abdomen
  • Blood tests to check for signs of infection
  • Urine tests to rule out urinary tract infections
  • Imaging studies, such as X-rays, ultrasounds, or CT scans

Why might a doctor order multiple tests? The goal is to rule out other potential causes of abdominal pain and confirm the diagnosis of appendicitis with a high degree of certainty before proceeding with treatment.

Treatment Options for Pediatric Appendicitis

The primary treatment for appendicitis is surgical removal of the infected appendix, known as an appendectomy. There are two main surgical approaches:

  1. Laparoscopic appendectomy: A minimally invasive procedure using small incisions and a camera
  2. Open appendectomy: A traditional surgery with a larger incision, often used for complicated cases

How long do children typically stay in the hospital after an appendectomy? Most children who undergo a laparoscopic appendectomy can go home after one day. However, those with a ruptured appendix may require a longer hospital stay to receive intravenous antibiotics and ensure proper healing.

Pre- and Post-Operative Care

Before and after surgery, children with appendicitis may receive:

  • Intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration
  • Antibiotics to fight infection
  • Pain medication to manage discomfort

Parents should follow the medical team’s instructions carefully regarding food and drink restrictions before surgery and pain management during recovery.

Potential Complications of Untreated Appendicitis

If left untreated, appendicitis can lead to serious complications. The most significant risk is a ruptured appendix, which can occur within 48 to 72 hours after symptoms begin. A ruptured appendix can cause:

  • Peritonitis (infection of the abdominal cavity)
  • Abscess formation
  • Sepsis (a life-threatening systemic infection)

These complications underscore the importance of seeking prompt medical attention when appendicitis is suspected.

Recovery and Post-Operative Care at Home

After an appendectomy, children need time to rest and recover. What can parents expect during the recovery period?

  • Pain and discomfort: Use prescribed pain medications as directed
  • Limited activity: Encourage rest and gradual return to normal activities
  • Wound care: Follow instructions for keeping the surgical site clean and dry
  • Diet: Start with clear liquids and progress to solid foods as tolerated

How long does it take for a child to fully recover from an appendectomy? Most children feel significantly better within a week, but complete recovery can take 2-4 weeks. Follow-up appointments with the surgeon are important to ensure proper healing.

Preventing Appendicitis: Is It Possible?

Currently, there is no known way to prevent appendicitis. However, maintaining good overall health and hygiene may help reduce the risk of infections that could lead to appendicitis. Some general recommendations include:

  • Eating a balanced diet rich in fiber
  • Staying hydrated
  • Practicing good hand hygiene
  • Seeking prompt medical care for persistent abdominal pain

While these measures cannot guarantee prevention, they contribute to overall digestive health and may help identify potential issues early.

The Role of Early Detection

Although appendicitis cannot be prevented, early detection and treatment are crucial for optimal outcomes. Parents should be aware of the signs and symptoms of appendicitis and seek medical attention promptly if they suspect their child may have the condition.

Long-Term Outlook for Children with Appendicitis

What is the prognosis for children who have undergone an appendectomy? Generally, the outlook is excellent. Most children recover fully and experience no long-term effects from the surgery. However, it’s important to note that:

  • Children who had a ruptured appendix may have a longer recovery period
  • In rare cases, complications such as wound infections or intestinal obstruction may occur
  • Regular follow-up care is essential to monitor for any potential issues

Can appendicitis recur after an appendectomy? No, once the appendix is removed, it cannot become infected again. However, it’s still important for parents to be vigilant about their child’s digestive health and seek medical attention for any concerning symptoms in the future.

Supporting Your Child Through Appendicitis

Dealing with appendicitis can be a stressful experience for both children and parents. How can parents best support their child during this time?

  • Provide emotional reassurance and explain the situation in age-appropriate terms
  • Follow all medical instructions carefully
  • Encourage rest and gradual return to normal activities
  • Monitor for any signs of complications during recovery
  • Maintain open communication with healthcare providers

Remember that each child’s experience with appendicitis may be different, and it’s important to tailor care to your child’s specific needs and recovery progress.

Advances in Pediatric Appendicitis Care

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

  • Improved diagnostic techniques, such as advanced imaging and biomarker tests
  • Refinements in laparoscopic surgical techniques
  • Exploration of non-operative management for select cases of uncomplicated appendicitis
  • Enhanced pain management protocols for faster recovery

These advancements aim to improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce surgical complications, and enhance overall patient outcomes.

The Future of Appendicitis Treatment

What might the future hold for appendicitis treatment? Ongoing research is exploring several promising avenues:

  • Development of more precise diagnostic tools to reduce unnecessary surgeries
  • Investigation of minimally invasive alternatives to traditional appendectomy
  • Personalized treatment approaches based on individual patient factors
  • Improved antibiotics and infection control strategies

As medical science advances, the goal is to provide even more effective, less invasive, and more personalized care for children with appendicitis.

Educating Children About Appendicitis

How can parents help their children understand appendicitis and its treatment? Age-appropriate education can help alleviate fears and promote cooperation during the medical process. Consider these approaches:

  • Use simple, clear language to explain what the appendix is and why it sometimes needs to be removed
  • Emphasize that appendicitis is common and that doctors are well-equipped to treat it
  • Explain the recovery process and what to expect after surgery
  • Encourage questions and address any concerns your child may have

By fostering open communication, parents can help their children feel more comfortable and confident throughout the appendicitis experience.

The Impact of Appendicitis on Family Life

How does a child’s appendicitis affect the entire family? The sudden onset of appendicitis can disrupt family routines and cause stress for everyone involved. Consider these aspects:

  • Emotional impact: Siblings may feel worried or neglected during the affected child’s treatment
  • Logistical challenges: Hospital visits and recovery care may require schedule adjustments
  • Financial considerations: Medical expenses and potential time off work for parents

To minimize stress, families can:

  1. Communicate openly about the situation
  2. Involve extended family or friends for support
  3. Plan for childcare and household management during treatment and recovery
  4. Take advantage of hospital resources, such as social workers or financial counselors

By addressing these aspects proactively, families can navigate the challenges of appendicitis more smoothly and focus on their child’s recovery.

Nutrition and Diet After Appendicitis

What dietary considerations should parents keep in mind after their child’s appendectomy? While there’s no specific “appendicitis diet,” following these guidelines can promote healing and prevent digestive discomfort:

  • Start with clear liquids and gradually progress to solid foods as tolerated
  • Introduce easily digestible foods like rice, bananas, and lean proteins
  • Avoid spicy, fatty, or hard-to-digest foods initially
  • Encourage adequate hydration
  • Consider adding probiotic-rich foods to support gut health

It’s important to follow any specific dietary instructions provided by your child’s healthcare team, as individual needs may vary.

Long-Term Dietary Habits

While appendicitis itself doesn’t require long-term dietary changes, maintaining good digestive health is always beneficial. Encourage your child to:

  • Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
  • Limit processed and high-sugar foods
  • Listen to their body and eat mindfully

These habits can contribute to overall digestive wellness and may help prevent future gastrointestinal issues.

Physical Activity and Exercise After Appendicitis

How soon can children return to physical activities after an appendectomy? The timeline for resuming exercise and sports varies depending on the individual and the type of surgery performed. Generally:

  • Light activities can often be resumed within a week
  • More strenuous activities may need to be avoided for 2-4 weeks
  • Contact sports or activities with a high risk of abdominal impact may require a longer wait

It’s crucial to follow the surgeon’s specific instructions and gradually increase activity levels. Signs that a child may be pushing too hard include increased pain, fatigue, or discomfort at the surgical site.

Supporting a Safe Return to Activity

To ensure a smooth transition back to physical activities:

  1. Start with gentle exercises like short walks
  2. Gradually increase duration and intensity of activities
  3. Listen to your child’s body and respect any discomfort
  4. Communicate with coaches or physical education teachers about activity restrictions
  5. Attend follow-up appointments to get clearance for full activity

Remember, every child’s recovery is unique, and it’s important to prioritize healing over rushing back to normal activities.

Emotional and Psychological Aspects of Appendicitis in Children

How does appendicitis and surgery affect a child’s emotional well-being? The experience can be stressful and may lead to various emotional responses:

  • Anxiety about the surgery and hospital stay
  • Frustration with activity restrictions during recovery
  • Fear of pain or complications
  • Concerns about missing school or social activities

Parents can support their child’s emotional health by:

  1. Encouraging open expression of feelings
  2. Providing reassurance and age-appropriate information
  3. Maintaining routines as much as possible during recovery
  4. Celebrating milestones in the healing process
  5. Seeking professional support if emotional difficulties persist

By addressing both the physical and emotional aspects of appendicitis, parents can help their child navigate the experience with resilience and confidence.

Appendicitis In Kids and Teens (for Parents)

en español: La apendicitis en niños y adolescentes

Medically 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.

Medically 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

Medically 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).

Medically reviewed by: Loren Berman, MD

Date reviewed: January 2023

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Five tips on how to recognize appendicitis in time

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06/08/2011 23:10

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Tatyana Volodina

It is estimated that in our country acute appendicitis overtakes about a million people every year.

Mortality due to it seems to be low: only 0.2-0.3%, but such insignificant figures hide about 3,000 human lives that doctors cannot save. And in the summer, when many people are in their country houses and far from doctors, it is especially important to be able to distinguish appendicitis from ordinary abdominal pain in order to see a doctor in time.

Blind but dangerous

The appendix is ​​a short and thin blind appendix 7-10 cm long, located at the end of the caecum (the initial part of the large intestine). Like any part of the intestine, the appendix produces intestinal juice, but so little that it does not play a special role in digestion. Therefore, for a long time it was considered a “error of nature” and was removed by the sick at the first opportunity. But recently, scientists have found lymphoid cells in the blind process, the same as in the human tonsils. And since these cells have the ability to protect the body from infections, the assumption was born that the appendix is ​​part of the immune system.

However, the number of protective cells in it, as it turned out, is very small and cannot have a strong effect on immunity. So most experts are still sure that there is no benefit from the appendix, but the harm in case of its inflammation can be significant: acute appendicitis not diagnosed in time can cost not only health, but also life.

Are your teeth to blame?

Experts do not agree on the exact causes of appendicitis. However, risk groups are identified.

For example, people suffering from diseases such as chronic tonsillitis, pneumonia, prolonged colds, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, caries. As a result of these diseases, infections penetrate the bloodstream into the appendix and provoke an inflammatory process there. So healthy teeth – a guarantee of health for the appendix.

There is also a stress theory. It is based on the fact that as a result of excitement in a person there is a sharp narrowing of the blood vessels and this leads to a sudden bleeding of the appendix and the development of its inflammation.

But most often the occurrence of appendicitis is explained by blockage of the junction of the large intestine and the appendix, which often happens with constipation and chronic colitis.

How to identify him?

In most people, the appendix is ​​located about half way between the navel and the right ilium. In this place, with appendicitis, the maximum pain is felt. But if the appendix is ​​raised to the right hypochondrium, closer to the liver, pain will appear in this area. And if the appendix is ​​lowered into the lower part of the pelvis, then in women, appendicitis is easily confused with inflammation of the appendages, in men – the bladder.

When the process is located behind the caecum, when it is wrapped to the kidney and ureter, there is pain in the lower back, it radiates to the groin, to the leg, to the pelvic area. If the process is directed inside the abdomen, then pains appear closer to the navel, in the middle section of the abdomen and even under the spoon.

Pain occurs suddenly without any obvious cause . At first they are not too strong – they can still be tolerated. And sometimes, from the first minutes of an attack of acute appendicitis, they become unbearable and proceed like colic.

Pain will torment a person as long as the nerve endings of the process are alive. When its necrosis occurs, the nerve cells will die and the pain will subside. But this is no reason for reassurance. Appendicitis will not “resolve” . On the contrary, the retreat of pain is a reason for immediate hospitalization. Acute appendicitis is accompanied by other symptoms. At the beginning of the disease, there is a general malaise, weakness, appetite worsens. Nausea may soon occur, and sometimes vomiting, but only once. Typical temperature in the range of 37.2-37.7 degrees, sometimes accompanied by chills. A white or yellowish coating appears on the tongue.

Appendicitis can be recognized with simple tricks. But, keep in mind, self-diagnosis must be carried out very carefully.

1 . Lightly tap with the pad of a bent index finger in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe right iliac bone – with appendicitis, it always hurts there.

2 . For comparison, also tap on the left iliac region, which in case of inflammation of the appendix will not cause pain. Attention: you cannot palpate (palpation of the abdomen with your hands) yourself, there is a danger of tearing the appendix, which usually leads to peritonitis.

3. Try to cough loudly: increased pain in the right iliac region will tell you that you have appendicitis.

4 . Press lightly with the palm of your hand in the area of ​​the abdomen where it hurts the most. Hold your hand here for 5-10 seconds. This will ease the pain a bit. Now take your hand away. If pain appears at this point, this is a sign of acute appendicitis.

5 . Take the fetal position, that is, lie on your right side and pull your legs towards your torso. Appendicitis relieves abdominal pain. If you turn on your left side and straighten your legs, it will intensify. This is also a sign of acute appendicitis.

But the self-diagnosis should be limited to this. Do not hesitate to see a doctor, because appendicitis itself, and all the diseases that it can disguise as (renal colic, exacerbation of pancreatitis or cholecystitis, peptic ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, acute inflammation of the bladder, kidneys, female organs), require hospitalization!

How to Treat

If acute appendicitis is diagnosed, the first treatment is emergency surgery. Currently, there is a sparing laparoscopic method in which the appendix can be removed without a large incision. Unfortunately, in our country, this type of operation is not yet widespread due to the poor technical equipment of hospitals.

The main task of the postoperative period is to avoid complications, such as suppuration of the postoperative wound. In their occurrence most often there is no fault of the surgeon. And to be this complication or not to be, depends on the state of the appendix at the time of the operation – the greater the degree of inflammation, the higher the risk of suppuration.

If the operation was successful, young patients will have their sutures removed on the 6-7th day and discharged from the hospital. But for the elderly, as well as for chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac ischemia, etc.), the stitches are removed 2-3 days later. After that, it is desirable to fasten the wound with adhesive tape.

Do not take a bath or go to the sauna for about a month: water and temperature loads on the fragile scar tissue make the seam rougher, wider and uglier. At least three months, and the elderly should not lift weights for six months. Avoid sports activities that cause tension in the abdominal muscles. Try not to catch a cold: it is dangerous for you to cough.

Severe case

If you try to “endure” appendicitis, you may experience peritonitis – inflammation of the abdominal cavity. Its symptoms:

increasing pain all over the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, in severe cases – drowsiness, lethargy, bluish complexion;

pulse up to 120-140 beats per minute, temperature up to 39-40 C;

tongue coated with white, then becomes dry like a crust, lips dry and cracked;

The abdomen is swollen, it hurts in all its areas, but especially on the right side.

Peritonitis is treated only by surgery. Moreover, the operation is very complex and lengthy. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to save the patient. That is why, with the appearance of any pain in the abdomen, in no case should you delay a visit to the doctor. As they say, we do not want to scare anyone, but everyone should remember how dangerous appendicitis is.

Rossiyskaya gazeta – Week – Federal issue: No. 124(5500)

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ZdorovyeMedlikbez

Acute appendicitis

Acute appendicitis – (inflammation of the black Veiform process) is the most common surgical disease of the abdominal organs in children.

Every year, several thousand patients with suspected acute appendicitis are admitted to our hospital. In most children, the surgical diagnosis is not confirmed, and they receive treatment for other diseases in the somatic departments.

Every year we operate on 200-300 children for inflammation of the appendix.

Acute appendicitis is a serious surgical disease. Mortality from it, according to various authors, ranges from 0.06 to 7%.

There were no deaths from acute appendicitis in our hospital.

We are all students and followers of Girey Alievich Bairov, an outstanding pediatric surgeon who devoted many years of his life to the development of uniform correct approaches to diagnosis, surgical procedures and postoperative treatment of children with various surgical pathologies.

The clinical picture in acute appendicitis is very variable and largely depends on the age of the child. This disease occurs even in children of the first year of life.

I operated on a 4 month old child for “Phlegmonous Appendicitis”. Inflammatory changes in the vermiform appendix were clearly expressed and delay in the operation would have led to the development of formidable complications that threatened the life of the child.

Classic triad of symptoms of acute appendicitis :

  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Temperature increase

Consider them in order:

  • Pain in the abdomen can have different localization (they depend on the anatomical location of the appendix) – in the navel, in the left half of the abdomen, below the navel, to the right of the navel, above the womb, under liver. The onset of pain is sudden – “among full health.” The intensity of pain is different – from “dull, aching” to sharp. The symptom of “transfer of pain” to the right iliac region (the typical location of the appendix) is rare, usually in older children. Small children often point to the navel area, take a forced position in the crib, become lethargic, inactive, refuse active games.
  • Nausea and vomiting in the first hours of onset may not occur in older children. These symptoms in the early stages of the disease are typical for children of younger age groups. Young children may also have loose or loose stools.
  • An increase in temperature to 38.0º C and above is typical for children of younger age groups. In older children, subfebrile condition is observed – 37.2-37.8º C.

The main symptoms of the disease are listed above. However acute appendicitis – a very insidious disease and can occur with various symptoms: pain in the right hypochondrium, frequent urination, pain in the right lumbar region, etc. :

  • Treat with a stomach warmer!
  • Give analgesics (painkillers) and antispasmodics (Baralgin, No-shpa) before seeing a doctor!
  • Monitor your child’s condition and development of the disease on your own at home for a long time!

What to do – call an emergency or ambulance doctor.