Chronic appendicitis is diagnosed predominantly in women and is a very rare pathology. The disease develops with the relief of acute appendicitis by any means, except for appendectomy. People with this diagnosis are at risk and should be constantly under the supervision of a doctor.
Causes of chronic appendicitis
Appendix is a disease that is an inflammation in the walls of the appendix of the caecum. According to statistics, this pathology develops in women much more often than in men. Two forms of development of appendicitis are known:
- Primary-chronic process - sluggish inflammation of the appendix, which does not cause acute manifestations. The diagnosis is made when there are no experimentally or instrumentally confirmed diseases, the symptoms of which include pain in the right abdomen.
- Secondary-chronic process - occurs with a recurrent acute course of appendicitis. Homethe cause of such a pathology is improperly rendered assistance, in which scars appear in the tissues of the process and congestion develops. In a secondary chronic process, a person suffers from periodic pain throughout his life.
Chronic appendicitis, the signs of which often recur, is best removed in advance. Adverse factors affecting the body can cause exacerbations that will lead to the development of acute appendicitis requiring surgical intervention.
Symptoms of pathology
Many digestive and genitourinary diseases have the same manifestations as chronic appendicitis. Symptoms in women may be mild and not cause increased attention. Main signs of appendicitis:
- heaviness and pulling pain in the right side - after overeating, eating fatty foods and physical exertion, the pain increases significantly;
- digestive processes are disturbed - a person is constantly accompanied by bloating, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea;
- there are pains in the bladder, ureters, lower back, in women, pain can spread to the ovaries and vagina, and in men, discomfort appears in the rectum;
- urination becomes more frequent and painful;
- hyperthermia develops - in the evening, the body temperature rises to 37.5-38 degrees.
In case of any manifestations of discomfort in the right iliac region and the appearance of intestinal disorders, it is necessarySeek immediate medical attention to prevent complications.
Chronic appendicitis: symptoms in women
When inflammation worsens, the patient feels a pulling or aching pain localized in the umbilical and right iliac region of the abdomen. She cannot lie on her left side, there are difficulties with moving. Most often, these symptoms worsen at night or in the morning.
During a gynecological examination, severe pain appears, it is also characteristic of palpation of the abdomen. Women with adnexal disease may not recognize an exacerbation in a timely manner, leading to severe complications.
Features of the anatomical structure of the female body provoke pain in the abdomen during menstruation and during sexual intercourse. This is due to the proximity of the organs of the genitourinary and digestive systems. Therefore, any suspicion of appendicitis should not be ignored.
Diagnosis of chronic appendicitis
It is quite difficult to identify the chronic course of inflammation of the appendix. Pathology has no pronounced symptoms and can be differentiated from many digestive and genitourinary diseases.
After a detailed survey and initial examination, the patient needs to undergo additional examinations. Acute appendicitis, diagnosed in a timely manner, will not cause serious complications for the patient.
In chronic appendicitis, the doctor may prescribe the following diagnosticEvents:
- X-ray examination of the abdominal cavity - indicates the presence of blockage of the process of the caecum with feces, which contributes to the development of a chronic inflammatory process. Most often, this phenomenon occurs in children.
- A blood test is necessary to determine the number of leukocytes in the blood, since it is these cells that indicate the development of any inflammatory pathology in the body.
- Urine analysis - in chronic appendicitis, all indicators should be normal. The appearance of red and white blood cells in the urine indicates the presence of an infectious pathology and kidney disease.
- Ultrasound of appendicitis - allows you to quickly and accurately determine the inflammation or abscess of the appendix. Ultrasound examination allows to exclude the presence of diseases of the genitourinary system, which have similar symptoms with chronic inflammation of the process of the caecum.
- Computed tomography - excludes all related diseases that have similar symptoms.
To make a correct diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct a complete examination of the body and exclude related pathologies. Any suspicion of appendicitis must be confirmed or refuted by a qualified physician.
Methods of treating pathology
The main treatment is appendectomy, which can be performed using an open method or laparoscopy. The decision on the need to remove the inflamed process is made by the doctor based on the results of the examination, the severity of the symptoms and the general condition of the patient.
In some cases, you can refuse to remove the process when the risks of complications of appendicitis are high. At the same time, doctors are obliged to provide the necessary conservative treatment (only if the elimination of the pathology is possible without surgery).
Conservative therapy includes taking antispasmodic drugs, physiotherapy and remedies that neutralize intestinal disorders.
Laparoscopy of appendicitis
Laparoscopy is an examination that is performed by inserting a thin tube with a camera at the end into the intestine. This method allows you to detect any diseases in the intestines. Laparoscopy is a modern method for removing appendicitis.
Three incisions are made in the abdominal wall for the operation. A laparoscope is inserted into one of them. It allows surgeons to see everything that happens in the abdominal cavity and to regulate the direction of their actions.
Laparoscopy of appendicitis greatly facilitates the postoperative period - the patient can get out of bed in a few hours. The rehabilitation period is easier than with an open appendectomy, and the scars remain almost invisible.
Diet in the rehabilitation period and during conservative treatment
As with any pathology, chronic appendicitis requires a special diet:
- spicy, s alty, fried and fatty foods should be excluded from the daily menu;
- menu should be divided into5-6 small meals;
- black tea and coffee should be excluded and preference should be given to fruit drinks, compotes and green tea;
- sweet soda, canned food, smoked meats and seasonings should also be excluded from your menu;
- diet should be balanced and include all food categories.
Only compliance with all doctor's prescriptions will minimize discomfort and pain during exacerbations of the course of chronic inflammation of the appendix.
Complications of chronic appendicitis
The most dangerous complication is when chronic appendicitis develops into an acute form. Symptoms in women are exacerbated, there is severe pain, vomiting, and body temperature rises.
It is possible to develop appendicular infiltrate - inflammatory tissues that are tightly soldered together. Requires the appointment of painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, as well as physiotherapy. After relief of acute symptoms (about 2-4 months), an appendectomy is recommended.
Chronic inflammation can cause adhesions that will provoke the transition of pathology into an acute form. Complications of appendicitis caused by adhesions in the appendix are eliminated by physiotherapy or surgical intervention.
Chronic appendicitis during pregnancy
Because the gradual growth of the fetuscauses displacement of the abdominal organs and puts pressure on the organs of the genitourinary system, inflammation of the process can become acute and be dangerous for the mother and unborn child. It is very important to carefully monitor your condition in the presence of such a diagnosis as chronic appendicitis.
Symptoms in women can be similar to many gynecological and urological diseases and require the attention and responsibility of doctors in order to differentiate the exacerbation in time. To avoid the worries and dangers associated with inflammation of the appendix, it is recommended to remove it at the planning stage of pregnancy.
