Table of contents:
- Appendicitis symptoms, namely:
- How to diagnose appendicitis?
- How to treat appendicitis?
- Helping children to help themselves
Early adolescence is the first time appendicitis usually appears. This condition has the potential for severe intestinal inflammation. The small appendix located on the right side of the lower abdomen exits the intestine like a protruding tongue. Surging and removing the bulge is the only way to treat appendicitis, and your body will be fine without the appendix because it has no known function.
Appendicitis symptoms, namely:
- The pain in the middle of the stomach moves to the lower right side of the stomach
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Pain gas
- Diarrhea
- Fever, appears after other symptoms
- Pain in the lower right abdomen
- Swelling of the stomach
- High white blood cell count
- Loss of appetite
Anyone who has appendicitis will feel a pain that is different from other pains. In adolescence, it starts with a faint stomachache near the navel. Then you will feel pain again in the lower right side of the stomach. This pain is the same as if the stomach is full and pressed at the same time.
Symptoms should be taken seriously. Appendicitis can infect the double lining of the peritoneal membrane that lines the abdominal cavity. The medical term is peritonitis. Tell your pediatrician or call the local hospital emergency department. While waiting to be seen by the doctor, instruct your child to lie down and stay still. Any movement including coughing or taking deep breaths can make the pain worse. Do not give water, food, laxatives, aspirin or a heating pad.
How to diagnose appendicitis?
Appendicitis is diagnosed through a physical examination and a thorough medical history, plus one or more of the following procedures:
- white blood cell count
- Urinalysis, to rule out urinary tract infections
- Ultrasound
- Low GI (barium enema)
- CT scan
- Laparoscopic exploratory surgery
How to treat appendicitis?
Appendicitis can be difficult to diagnose. Therefore, your doctor may not schedule an appendectomy until symptoms develop rapidly. Appendectomy usually takes two days to hospitalize, carries a risk of complications, and leaves a small scar, but you will be completely healed.
Helping children to help themselves
Children should be encouraged to follow basic guidelines for a healthy digestive tract:
- Eat at a fixed hour
- Drink lots of water (at least eight glasses of water or other fluids every day)
- Always be physically active
- Chew food slowly and swallow it carefully
- Use aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs in moderation. This medication can irritate the fragile lining of the digestive tract
- Do not smoke, because smoking can cause stomach ulcers
- Don't hold your bowels
- Try not to tighten your stomach during bowel movements
- Most importantly, even though the activity is very busy, make sure you eat regularly. At least take some time to sit back at the dinner table, chew, and digest. This will not only help your child's gut but also strengthen family ties.
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