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The appendix is a small outgrowth of tissue forming a tube-shaped sac attached to the lower end of the large intestine. Inflammation of the appendix presents itself in acute and chronic forms and affects both the sexes equally.Appendicitis is when your appendix becomes blocked and inflamed. The appendix is a small pouch attached to your large intestine, whose function is not well known. This disease accounts for about half the acute abdominal emergencies occurring between the ages of ten and thirty.
Symptoms:
Pain in centre of abdomen, discomfort in abdomen
Appendicitis usually begins with a sudden pain in the centre of the abdomen. The pain may be preceded by general discomfort in the abdomen, indigestion, diarrhoea, or constipation. Gradually, the pain shifts to the lower right side, and is usually accompanied by a fever varying from 38 oC to 39 oC.
The symptoms of appendicitis vary. It can be hard to diagnosis appendicitis in young children, the elderly, and women of childbearing age.
Typically, the first symptom is pain around your navel. The pain initially may be vague, but becomes increasingly sharp and severe. You may have reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, and a low-grade fever.
As the inflammation in the appendix increases, the pain tends to move into your right lower abdomen and focuses directly above the appendix at a place called “McBurney’s point.”
If the appendix ruptures, the pain may lessen briefly and you may feel better. However, once peritonitis sets in, the pain worsens and you become sicker.
Abdominal pain may be worse when walking or coughing. You may prefer to lie still because sudden movement causes pain.
Later symptoms include:
Fever
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Constipation
Diarrhea
Chills and shaking
Causes of Appendicitis:
Appendicitis is initiated by the presence of an excessive amount of poisonous waste material in the caecum. As a result, the appendix gets irritated and inflamed. Inflammation and infection are caused by certain germs which are usually present in the intestinal tract.
click to see the pictue of acute appendicitis
Signs and tests
With appendicitis, pain increases when the abdomen is gently pressed and then the pressure is suddenly released. If peritonitis is present, touching the abdomen may cause a spasm of the abdominal muscles. A rectal examination may identify abdominal or pelvic pain on the right side of your body.
Doctors can usually diagnose appendicitis by your description of the symptoms, the physical exam, and laboratory tests alone. In some cases, additional tests may be needed. These may include:
Abdominal ultrasound
Abdominal CT scan
Diagnostic laparoscopy
Note: In December 2005, the US Food and Drug Administration recalled a drug used during some imaging tests after reports of life-threatening side effects and two deaths. The drug, called NeutroSpec, is used to help diagnose appendicitis in patients ages 5 and older who may have the condition but do not show the usual signs and symptoms.
Modern Treatment:
For uncomplicated cases, a surgical procedure caflled an appendectomy is performed to remove the appendix soon after the diagnosis. An appendectomy can be done as an “open” procedure, where fairly large surgical cuts are made in your abdomen. The surgery can also be done as a laparoscopic procedure, which uses a camera and small incisions.
If the operation reveals that the appendix is normal, the surgeon will remove the appendix and explore the rest of the abdomen for other causes of your pain.
If a CT scan reveals an abscess from a ruptured appendix, the patient may be treated and the appendix removed later, after the infection and inflammation have gone away.
Expectations (prognosis)
If your appendix is treated before it ruptures, you will probably recover rapidly from surgery. If your appendix ruptures before surgery, you will probably recover more slowly, and are more likely to develop an abscess.
Complications
Peritonitis
Abscess
Fistulas
Wound infection
Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if you develop abdominal pain in the lower right portion of your belly, or any other symptoms of appendicitis.
Homeopathic Treatment for Appendicitis
Home Remedies for Appendicitis:
Appendicitis treatment using Green Gram
Green gram is a proven home remedy for acute appendicitis. An infusion of green gram is an excellent medicine for treating this condition. It can be taken in a small quantity of one tablespoon three times a day.
Appendicitis treatment using Fenugreek Seeds
Regular use of tea made from fenugreek seeds has proved helpful in preventing the appendix from becoming a dumping ground for excess mucus and intestinal waste. This tea is prepared by putting one tablespoon of the seeds in a litre of cold water and allowing it to simmer for half an hour over a low flame and then strained it. It should be allowed to cool a little before being drunk.
Appendicitis treatment using Vegetable Juices
Certain vegetable juices have been found valuable in appendicitis. A particularly good combination is that of 100 ml each of beet and cucumber juices mixed with 300 ml of carrot juice. This combined juice can be taken twice daily.
Appendicitis treatment using Buttermilk
Buttermilk is beneficial in the treatment of chronic form of appendicitis. One litre of buttermilk may be taken daily for this purpose.
Appendicitis treatment using Whole Wheat
The consumption of whole wheat, which includes bran and wheat germ, has been found beneficial in preventing several digestive disorders, including appendicitis. The bran of wheat can be sterilised by baking after thorough cleaning. This sterilised bran can be added to wheat flour in the proportion of one to six by weight. Two or three chapatis mane from this flour can be eaten daily for preventing this disease.
Appendicitis diet
Fasting and nothing except water
At the first symptoms of severe pain, vomiting, and fever, the patient should resort to fasting and nothing except water should enter the system.
Fruit juices and All-fruit diet
Fruit juices may be given from the third day onwards for the next three days. Thereafter the patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for a further four or five days.
Well-balanced diet
After this tightly regulated regimen, he should adopt a well-balanced diet, consisting of seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables, and fruits.
Other Appendicitis treatments:
Half litre of Warm-water enema
When the first symptoms of pain, vomiting, and fever occur, the patient must be put to bed immediately, as rest is of the utmost importance. A low enema, containing about half a litre of warm water, should be administered once every day for the first three days to cleanse the lower bowel if it can be tolerated with comfort.
Hot compresses and abdominal packs of wet sheet strip
Hot compresses may be placed over the painful area several times daily. Abdominal packs, made of a strip of wet sheet and covered by a dry flannel cloth bound tightly around the abdomen, should be applied continuously until all acute symptoms subside.
Three litres of warm-water enema
When the acute symptoms subside by about the third day, the patient should be given a full enema containing about three litres of warm water, and this should be repeated daily until all inflammation and pain have subsided.
Avoid constipation
In other words, the patient of appendicitis should adopt all measures to eradicate constipation. Once the waste matter in the caecum has moved into the colon and is then eliminated, the irritation and inflammation in the appendix will subside and surgical removal of the appendix may not be necessary.
IT IS ALWAYS ADVICED TO CONSULT A DOCTOR AND TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION FOR ACUTE APPENDICTIS CASES.
Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.
Sources:www.healthline.com AND www.home-remedies-for-you.com
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