Tests are a means of diagnosing diseases and assessing the state of the body. One of the most informative diagnostic methods is a blood test, which allows you to identify even such hidden pathologies as appendicitis. In this article, we will analyze how this procedure is carried out and how to determine appendicitis by a blood test.
Definition
Appendicitis is an inflammatory process occurring in the appendage of the caecum (appendix). Patients with this diagnosis make up a significant proportion of patients in surgical departments. Newborns and children suffer from this disease very rarely. This is due to the peculiarities of the structure of their body.
The disease has a tendency to develop rapidly, which without immediate surgical intervention can lead to life-threatening complications. Appendicitis is also dangerous because in some casessymptoms are rather vague, making it difficult to diagnose. To confirm the diagnosis, a complex of emergency measures is used, among which a blood test is not the last.
Indications for analysis
Appendicitis can be indicated by a large number of symptoms that require medical attention. These include:
- Steady rise in temperature over several days.
- Loss of appetite.
- Weakness, fatigue.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Painful urination.
- Convulsions.
- Diarrhea.
- Sharp and pulling pain on the right side of the abdomen.
In some cases, the clinical picture is quite bright, which makes it easy to diagnose the disease. But with blurred symptoms, additional examination methods are needed to confirm the development of the pathological process. In children, it is much more difficult to determine the presence of appendicitis, because they cannot always correctly indicate the source of the ailment. Therefore, with an inexplicable change in behavior, increased irritability and pain, which disappears or decreases significantly when the body is located on the right side, it is necessary to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Rules for taking blood
The procedure for taking blood for appendicitis can be done in two ways:
- Blood sampling from a finger. Capillary blood is used for research.
- Blood sampling from a vein. In this case, venous blood is used. This method allows you to immediately conduct a biochemical analysis.
To get the most reliable result, you must follow a number of rules (with the exception of emergency cases):
- Blood is taken on an empty stomach.
- A few days before the analysis, give up fatty, smoked, fried foods and alcohol.
- Do not smoke a few hours before the procedure.
- Do not take medication for about a day. If it is not possible to cancel the drugs, the laboratory assistant must be notified.
Appendicitis blood test
To confirm the diagnosis, a set of diagnostic measures is used, an important place among which is a blood test. When deciphering the results, the values of the following indicators are especially important:
- Leukocytes. Immune cells that detect abnormal cells in the blood, after which they are attacked and eliminated.
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). An important indicator that indicates the intensity of the disease.
- Erythrocytes.
- Stab neutrophils. They are a type of leukocyte. But in addition to the protective function, they restore damaged tissues.
- S-RB. With the development of an inflammatory focus, the liver synthesizes a specific protein that suppresses the development of infection.
- hcg.
Transcript
When deciphering a general blood test for appendicitis, some features must be taken into account. For example:
- Age of the patient.
- Having a chronic disease.
- General condition of the body at the time of deliveryblood.
- Pregnancy.
It must be remembered that during pregnancy, the content of leukocytes and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate are slightly higher than normal. But at the same time, this condition is not considered pathological if there are no additional symptoms. In this case, it is recommended to use other diagnostic methods.
In the elderly, the leukocyte formula may not reveal a pathological increase in leukocytes due to the patient's age.
HCG analysis is prescribed to rule out an ectopic pregnancy, the symptoms of which are easily confused with the development of appendicitis. In this case, increased leukocytes will be found not only in the blood, but also in the urine.
Adult blood counts
A blood test for appendicitis in adults primarily detects the level of leukocytes. At an early stage of the development of the disease, this indicator will be within the normal range or slightly increased. In this case, the patient is sent to a hospital for observation and after a while the analysis is repeated.
A few hours after the first signs appear, the level of leukocytes will gradually rise. In the severe stage of the development of the disease and the absence of treatment, an increase in the content of white blood cells by 2 times can be observed. This is a very dangerous condition that indicates the development of acute inflammation in the body, which could occur in the event of a rupture of the appendix and the development of peritonitis. In this situation, emergency surgery is necessary.
Sometimesa normal level of leukocytes is diagnosed, but symptoms typical of appendicitis are observed. This is an indication for additional diagnostic measures and is not considered a contraindication for surgery.
| Norm, 109/l | The presence of an inflammatory process | Possibility of peritonitis |
| 4, 0–9, 0 | 12, 0–14, 0 | 19, 0–20, 0 |
ESR
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate is a fairly informative indicator in the development of inflammatory processes in the body. Under normal conditions, it is stable. But if a blood test for appendicitis revealed an increase in ESR, especially against the background of an increase in the content of leukocytes, this is a sign of the development of an acute inflammatory process occurring in the body.
Below is a table of ESR values (mm/h).
| Teens | Women | Men |
| 3–12 | 2–15 | 8–15 |
C-reactive protein
Is a marker of any inflammatory focus in the body. The normal value is 1 mg / l. Its increase cannot be considered as an absolute sign of appendicitis, but against the background of an increase in leukocytes and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, increased rates may be a confirmation of the development of this disease.
Peculiarities of analysis in children
The development of appendicitis in children takes moredangerous form. This is due to the immaturity of the immune system. Diagnosis in this case can be difficult, since the child cannot always explain the source of pain. But when examining painful areas, children begin to cry and push away the doctor's hand.
Despite the similarity of diagnostic measures, a blood test for appendicitis in children and adults will be slightly different, since the norms of some indicators have differences.
Below is a table of the level of leukocytes within the normal range in children of different ages (109/l).
| 0-3 years | 3-6 years old | After 11 years |
| 6–17 | 5–12 | 9–12 |
In acute appendicitis, a blood test will indicate a sharp rise in the level of ESR against the background of an increase in leukocytes and C-reactive protein.
Additional diagnosis and treatment
Determine which blood test for appendicitis will be the most accurate, only a doctor can. But due to the fact that this analysis may provide inaccurate information, additional diagnostic measures are needed. These include:
- Urine analysis. It is a fairly informative method of diagnosing. The presence of white blood cells, protein and bacteria will indicate the development of appendicitis. But if the presence of red blood cells in the urine is detected, it is highly likely that one can judge the development of diseases of the genitourinary system and kidneys.
- Computed tomography, which is used when an abscess is suspected.
- Laparoscopy. This is a modern and efficient method.diagnosis and treatment, which practically does not cause complications. When the diagnosis is confirmed, an operation is immediately performed to remove it.
Surgical intervention is extremely rare until the results of the prescribed tests are received and the diagnosis is confirmed. A qualified surgeon is involved in assessing the clinical picture of the disease and decoding the data obtained.
In the treatment of appendicitis, drugs are used as symptomatic therapy, but the main pathology is treated only surgically.
Complications
Appendicitis is a very dangerous disease, especially for children, who develop it more rapidly. Late treatment or lack thereof can lead to life-threatening complications. These include:
- Rupture of the appendix.
- Sepsis.
- Peritonitis.
- Isolated purulent focus.
- Perforation of the process.
With appendicitis, the inflammatory process develops very quickly, provoking serious pathological conditions. If signs of an acute form of the disease appear, emergency surgical intervention is necessary.
Forecast and conclusion
If suspicious signs appear, especially in a child, it is necessary to contact a medical facility as soon as possible, where an examination will be carried out and diagnostic measures will be prescribed, one of which is a blood test. Knowing which blood test shows appendicitis, you can identify not only yourselfinflammatory process, but also the degree of its development. To obtain a more accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to undergo a set of diagnostic measures, because blood counts can change under the influence of various conditions.
When a pathological condition is detected at an early stage of its development and treatment is started in a timely manner, the prognosis is positive in most cases. In more advanced cases, the skill of the surgeon and medical staff will play an important role.
