Mendel's symptom can manifest itself in several cases, in the article we will describe some of the most common. First is appendicitis, second is meningitis.
Detection of inflammation of the appendix
Inflammation of the appendix of the rectum (appendix) is called acute appendicitis. In order to avoid serious complications, it is important to make a diagnosis on time, which is not always possible due to a number of factors. The symptoms of the disease are not unambiguous and differ depending on the location of the process in the abdominal cavity, on changes in the appendix, associated complications, and also on the age of the person. The main signs of pathology are sudden, wandering pains in the navel or in the upper abdomen.
After a period of time from one to twelve hours, the pain goes to the iliac region of the right side of the abdomen. With an atypical location of the appendix, pain can be felt: in the right hypochondrium (the location of the process is higher than the normal position), along the entire right side of the abdomen (with a retrocecal location), in the lumbar region, above the pubis (with a pelvic location). Other symptoms of appendicitis includenausea and vomiting. The chair most often remains undisturbed. Tongue wet, covered with white coating. There is a sharp headache when changing the position of the body.
What is Mendel's symptom
Diagnosis of the disease is not difficult with the normal position of the appendix in the abdominal cavity. Non-standard location and atypical course of the inflammatory process can mislead even experienced professionals. In such situations, doctors act by excluding other possible pathologies of the abdominal cavity, such as ectopic pregnancy, renal colic, mesadenitis, acute enteritis, diverticulitis, acute pancreatitis, perforated gastric and duodenal ulcers, acute adnexitis, herpes zoster, and right-sided pneumonia.
For the purposes of diagnosis, many symptoms (sets of signs) have been developed, thanks to which an accurate diagnosis can be established in a timely manner. The simplest of them is the symptom of Mendel-Razdolsky, which explains the soreness of the right iliac region by percussion of the abdominal wall. The cause of its manifestation in appendicitis is irritation of the receptors of the inflamed appendix.
Identification of meningitis
Meningitis is one of the most dangerous neurological diseases, which is caused by the focus of occurrence. To be able to timely identify the signs of meningitis is necessary for a doctor of any specialization. When diagnosing, the main attention is paid to the symptoms that cause irritation of the meninges (this is the pathogenesis of the disease). Especiallya group of so-called grimace or pain symptoms is distinguished, which, increasing the irritation of the meningeal membranes, provoke severe pain in the patient.
Mendel's sign in meningitis
It was first described by Kurt Mendel, a German neurologist in the mid-twentieth century. The essence of the method is simple and is as follows: the patient is placed on the couch, the external auditory canals are closed with the fingers, after which gentle, moderate pressure is applied. In the case of meningitis or any other disease that irritates the meninges, a person experiences pain, which is expressed on the face in the form of a painful grimace. If soreness prevails on only one side of the head, this most likely indicates an inflammatory process in the middle ear.
Due to its simplicity, Mendel's symptom is of great importance in the diagnosis of meningitis. Especially in the case when the standard manifestations of the meningeal syndrome complex are mild and require further consideration and search. However, it should be borne in mind that Mendel's symptom is not a sufficient condition for diagnosing this disease, that is, on the basis of it alone, it is impossible to make an unambiguous diagnosis.
