Unfortunately, there is a misconception among most people that appendicitis is an "adult" disease. The opinion is due to general ideas about this small appendix of the intestine. For some reason, many people think that inflammation occurs only with a strong fullness of this small “spare part” after a certain number of years, for example, with excessive consumption of poorly digested food particles (seeds, pork skin, etc.). But not always all this is interconnected. It turns out that appendicitis can also occur in a child. Symptoms in young patients are somewhat deceptive and can confuse even experienced physicians. How to determine the exact cause of abdominal pain? How dangerous is a belated decision about surgery? You will find answers to these and other questions in the article.
Appendicitis in a child: symptoms are oftencan be deceiving
Especially this problem is often faced by parents of young children. Often they exclude the fact that appendicitis in a child can become inflamed. Symptoms and abdominal pain that appear in babies are mistaken by adults for manifestations of other diseases. Complaints of nausea can be, for example, with food poisoning, overeating, bloating, and increased gas formation in the intestines. Diagnosis of acute appendicitis is greatly simplified by a complete examination of the baby. If appendicitis is suspected, tests are always taken to determine the inflammatory process in the body. But the most accurate diagnosis can only be made after an ultrasound examination. After all, every tenth child entering the emergency department with complaints of abdominal pain actually has appendicitis. The rest have other reasons. Vomiting and severe pain in the form of cramps in the right lower abdomen do not always indicate that the child's appendicitis has worsened. The symptoms of this particular disease can still be distinguished from the manifestations of other problems with the digestive system. If the baby has several of the following complaints at the same time, it is worth sounding the alarm and urgently consult a doctor.
Symptoms requiring immediate attention:
- constant pain in the lower right side of the abdomen lasting more than 12 hours;
- nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea;
- colic with sudden movements (driving in a car, coughing, walking onbumps);
- during palpation of the abdomen, special sensitivity and pain after pressing and “releasing” the diseased area.
Unpleasant consequences of having an appendix removed late
Unfortunately, almost half of children experience a rupture of the appendix due to an inaccurate diagnosis and, as a result, with not quite timely intervention. This greatly complicates the operation itself and the subsequent rehabilitation period. Therefore, for any abdominal pain in a child, especially a younger (preschool) age, seek the advice of a doctor in order to determine the cause of complaints in a timely manner and avoid unforeseen situations. Take care of children's he alth!
