The first signs of appendicitis in a 16-year-old teenager. The most common clinical signs of appendicitis in adolescents

To begin timely treatment, you need to know the signs of appendicitis in a teenager. Such knowledge will never be superfluous. By knowing the first symptoms you can avoid complications. Let's take a closer look at the signs of appendicitis in adolescence.

Early symptoms of the disease

Children 12 years of age are more likely to suffer from this pathology. In early adolescence, a potentially serious inflammation of the appendix can be fatal. The first signs of appendicitis at the age of 12–14 years:

dull pain near the navel or in the upper abdomen of the child, it becomes sharp and moves to the lower right region;
loss of appetite.

The main symptom of appendicitis is pain. The mechanism of its development, and from which side does it manifest itself first? The disease begins with sudden abdominal pain. At first it is diffuse and its localization is unclear, the entire lower and upper abdomen feels as if it hurts.

Where does it hurt and for how long? It is localized in the right iliac region, of moderate intensity, of a constant nature. In 70% of patients it occurs in the epigastric region. After 2–4 hours, it moves to the location of the appendix (Kocher's sign). Over time, it is localized in the lower right square, the patient is able to determine its exact location. It bothers the teenager for 4 to 6 hours. Symptoms of pain:

occurs suddenly, often causing the patient to wake up at night;
appears earlier than other symptoms;
starts at the navel and then moves down and to the right;
worsens over several hours;
worsens when moving, when the patient takes a deep breath, when sneezing and coughing.

In 13-year-old girls, pain in the lower abdomen and on the right side may indicate the beginning of menstruation. Many people confuse menstrual pain with appendicitis, especially if this is their first menstruation.

Attention! Early signs are often difficult to distinguish from other conditions, including gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines).

Many teenagers are admitted to the hospital on suspicion of appendicitis and leave with a diagnosis of gastroenteritis. Children often do not adequately describe symptoms due to severe pain and mental confusion, so doctors may consider another illness.

Late signs of pathology

The sequence of symptoms is of great importance for medical practice and differential diagnosis. In more than 95 girls aged 18 years with acute appendicitis, the secondary symptom was anorexia, accompanied by abdominal pain and vomiting.

Anorexia almost always accompanies appendicitis. This combination of diseases can mainly occur in a teenage girl who wanted to lose weight. Appendicitis is so persistent that the diagnosis should be questioned. Although vomiting occurs in almost 75% of patients. It is caused by nervous excitement and the presence of obstruction. Other signs of appendicitis:

nausea;
Chronic constipation due to insufficient fiber intake is another sign of appendicitis;
diarrhea;
inability to pass gases;
swelling of the abdominal cavity.

Due to loss of appetite, the teenager experiences nausea and vomiting. This symptom rarely bothers children 15 years of age and older. Children, 17 years old, say that when they defecate, it feels as if the discomfort is decreasing, the pain subsides a little, and it becomes easier to move. After a short period of time, severe cramps and pain return.

Important! Nausea and vomiting may occur due to intestinal obstruction with expansion of the inflammatory infiltrate or abscess, and not from local inflammation.

Symptoms of inflamed appendicitis

Symptoms of appendicitis can take anywhere from 4 to 48 hours to appear. During this time, the signs acquire varying intensity, temporary remission or acute deterioration of the teenager’s condition is possible. What are the signs of inflammation? The presence of an inflammatory process in the body is indicated by increased body temperature. Usually it is low-grade, that is, it does not exceed 37–37.5 degrees. But in adolescents 12–16 years old, the temperature can rise to 38 degrees.

If the doctor suspects appendicitis, he or she should refer the child for blood tests to determine the number of white blood cells. In teenagers with an inflamed appendix, their number should be increased, which indicates that the body is fighting the infection.

What complications are there?

The most common complication of acute appendicitis is rupture of the inflamed appendix. This may lead to an emergency requiring surgery. Other complications of the disease may include an abscess and purulent pylephlebitis.

Attention! If a patient is not treated promptly and the appendix bursts, it can cause potentially life-threatening infections. If you experience acute pain in the abdominal cavity that quickly worsens, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Using antibiotics in an attempt to avoid or delay surgery is dangerous to your health. In this case, if the obstacle is not eliminated, the pathology will continue to cause gangrenous additions and lead to rupture of the appendix. The contents of the burst appendix spill into the abdominal cavity. This complication is called peritonitis.

Purulent pylephlebitis is a severe but rare complication. Purulent abscesses form in the liver, high fever, pain in the right hypochondrium and jaundice begin.

An appendicular abscess is a progressive purulent process, inflammation of the cecum and small intestine. If this complication is ignored and not treated properly, it can be fatal.

A burst appendix releases bacteria to other parts of the body. This can cause a condition called peritonitis. Symptoms include severe persistent abdominal pain, fever, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath with rapid breathing, and abdominal swelling. In some cases the outcome can be fatal.

The appendix is a small extension of the cecum, the inflammation of which is called appendicitis.

Treatment of this disease requires mandatory surgical intervention. Therefore, when the first signs appear, you must immediately consult a doctor!

Inflammation of the cecum in adolescence is diagnosed in almost the same way as in adults. Adolescents, unlike children, can already accurately describe the characteristics of pain caused by the disease. They do not interfere with the doctor's laboratory examination.

Signs of inflammation of appendicitis

Irritability, sleep disturbance, lack of appetite.
Localization of pain near the navel.
Nausea, vomiting.
Intestinal upset (diarrhea) and fever.
With appendicitis, the patient is in a lying position on the right side or on the back. Any change in the comfort position causes a sensation of pain, which will force the patient to return to the original position.
Minor physical actions such as laughing or coughing or sneezing can cause severe pain.
The respiratory process also changes slightly - the lower part of the abdominal wall during inhalation lags significantly behind its entire surface.

All symptoms of appendicitis in adolescents must be diagnosed by a qualified doctor.

The examination should be carried out using various methods (examination, laboratory tests (blood tests), ultrasound and x-rays of all organs, bacteriological culture of stool to detect infectious diseases).

For Adolescent girls must be examined by a gynecologist, because inflammation of the uterine appendages, ovarian cyst, ectopic pregnancy occurs with similar symptoms.

If inflammation of appendicitis is detected, urgent hospitalization in a hospital is required, with further surgical intervention.

Types of disease:

There are several types of appendicitis, which are characterized by the degree of inflammation.

Acute catarrhal

The very first stage of development of inflammation of the appendix. There is no pronounced pain syndrome or it is mild.

Simple appendicitis

It occurs according to the above symptoms; if you do not seek medical help in time, the complications of acute appendicitis cannot be avoided.

Destructive

The pain syndrome is more pronounced, the temperature is increased.

Acute phlegmonous

Pain increases and fever appears. The appendix fills with pus and ulcers form on its walls. The next stage in the development of the disease is inflammation of the walls of the peritoneum and muscles. The inflamed appendix can be felt by palpation.

Acute gangrenous

This stage is considered the most difficult. Occurs if timely medical assistance was not provided. It is characterized by complete infection of the abdominal cavity and complete death of appendix cells, which can lead to temporary loss of the sense of pain. Feeling worse. Intoxication of the body occurs. The patient begins to delirium. If medical assistance is not provided, peritonitis begins (the release of pus into the abdominal cavity), which can lead to blood poisoning.

Chronic appendicitis(residual) occurs after an acute attack that ends in recovery without surgery.

Treatment of such appendicitis is performed surgically, as in acute appendicitis.

Signs of chronic appendicitis

Dull, aching pain in the right side that occurs spontaneously during physical activity.
Secondary signs of chronic appendicitis are: slower emptying of the appendix, filling defects in its shadow, detection of fecal stones, changes in the shape of the appendix, unevenness of its lumen (with ultrasound).
If attacks of acute appendicitis are repeated, then this is the so-called chronic recurrent appendicitis.

Mistakes at the first manifestations of the disease

Taking painkillers if pain occurs in the abdomen. This prevents the doctor from conducting a proper examination.
Warm compresses on the stomach. It is strictly prohibited, as it can cause a deterioration in the patient’s condition and activate the inflammation process. It is better to apply cold, it will relieve the pain.
Ignoring pain. Do not treat your body negligently; if there is even slight pain in the appendix area, immediately go to see a doctor.

Remember, appendicitis is a disease that can have serious consequences for the health and life of the patient if incorrectly diagnosed and treated. It is especially important to promptly recognize the symptoms of the disease in a teenager. After all, it is at this age that a person tends to have a careless attitude towards his body and ignore pain. See a doctor immediately at the first sign of inflammation of the appendix!

The vermiform appendix of the cecum is a rudimentary organ, the length of which does not exceed 9 cm, better known as the appendix, which causes a lot of trouble.

The most common cause of surgical intervention in childhood and adolescence is inflammation of the appendix. What are the signs of appendicitis in a teenager?

The appendix in our body plays the role of a digestive system cleanser, protecting it from inflammatory processes, and is a storehouse of beneficial bacteria. The causes of exacerbation of appendicitis in adolescents can be divided into two types: mechanical and infectious: 1. Mechanical causes include stagnation and hardening of feces. After removing the shoot, seed husks, small toys and bones are found in it. 2.

Practice shows that in most cases the causes of inflammation of the appendix are not clear. Appendicitis is divided into subtypes, depending on the degree of inflammation:

Early is called acute catarrhal. At this stage, there may be no pain or muted pain.
Standard signs appear at the stage of simple appendicitis - at this moment, in order to avoid complications, you should consult a doctor.
The temperature rises, pain intensifies at the destructive stage.
Preserving all the signs of the previous stage, but with the accumulation of purulent mass, the process of inflammation turns into acute phlegmonous.
The most dangerous stage is acute gangrenous, the abdominal cavity is infected, the pain may subside because the appendix cells die. All signs of body poisoning begin
If acute appendicitis ends in recovery without surgery, the stage of residual inflammation begins. Treatment at this stage will still require surgery to remove the causes of inflammation.

Signs of appendicitis

It is important for all parents to know the first signs of appendicitis. Abdominal pain is a reason for close attention to the child’s health. The main danger of acute appendicitis is rapid progression of the disease. Several days may pass from the first signs of exacerbation to the critical point; in a child, this period is reduced to several hours.

Self-diagnosis is difficult because the signs of appendicitis in a teenager can be confused with a large number of less dangerous diseases that do not require surgical intervention.

The first sign is sharp pain. At first, your entire stomach may hurt. Later, painful sensations develop in the umbilical space and move to the right iliac region.

Symptoms

The nature of the pain can be of varying intensity - it depends on the degree of inflammation and the individual threshold of sensitivity. With any movement, the pain intensifies - it can be either tolerable or unbearable. Additional symptoms of appendicitis in a teenager:

lethargy;
nausea;
vomiting is possible;
disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by both diarrhea and constipation.

The intensity of vomiting is much less than with standard poisoning. The body temperature rises, and a general blood test reveals leukocytosis. When examining the tongue, you can notice a white coating on its surface.

Diagnostics

If the symptoms of appendicitis in adolescents are easier to find out through a survey, then diagnosing appendicitis in young children is difficult because the child cannot describe his feelings.

To make a diagnosis, the patient should be placed on a hard surface and the right iliac region should be felt. When the appendix is inflamed, its compaction is easily felt. If this compaction is pressed for a while, the pain subsides, and after the hand is removed, it intensifies - this may indicate local peritonitis.

In the early stages of inflammation, body temperature does not rise above 37.7C, and the pulse quickens. It is easier to diagnose appendicitis in guys; symptoms in girls may be similar to signs of gynecological problems.

In this regard, first of all, girls are referred for examination to a gynecologist. Unfortunately, given adolescence, the child does not always complain of minor pain, and sometimes even deliberately hides it for fear of ending up in the hospital. The parent must pay attention to unnatural posture or other changes in behavior.

One of the non-obvious signs is a tilt to the right, a slight lameness on the right leg, the patient prefers to sit down carefully, as if sparing the right side.

The main sign is a depressed state - the teenager wants to lie on his left side and lie down with his legs tucked. Possible tearfulness and isolation.

Abnormal location of the appendix

There are anomalies in the location of the appendix. Not only the intensity of pain, but also diagnostic methods and even the manifestation of symptoms depend on where the organ is located:

The appendix may be located behind the cecum, but the nature of the pain is not so obvious; there is discomfort in the groin area and in the right side of the lower back. The development of inflammation is accompanied by frequent urination and pain in the ureter area.
Possible pelvic location of the appendix. With this option, pain may be completely absent or mild. It is localized in the perineum or lower abdomen. Inflammation manifests itself as impaired urination and liquid stool with mucus.
When located behind the peritoneum, inflammation of the appendix is characterized by discomfort in the groin, ureters and lumbar region. Pain in the abdominal area is possible.
The location of the appendix under the hepatic dome changes the localization of pain in the area of the right hypochondrium, and muscle tension is possible in this same area. 5. If there is an anomaly of the reverse arrangement of organs, all the signs will be similar, but their localization will change to the left side.

Treatment

At the slightest suspicion of appendicitis, you should immediately consult a doctor. Self-medication may prevent a specialist from making a diagnosis on time. The use of an anesthetic will blur the clinical picture, and the teenager will not be able to objectively assess his sensations during examination. The use of laxatives or enemas will increase pressure on the vestigial appendix and may lead to its rupture.

Warming compresses will accelerate the development of inflammatory processes. In no case should you ignore pain - even with mild pain in the appendix area, it is better to consult a doctor.

Treatment of acute appendicitis is only possible through surgery. To relieve the condition, you can apply a cold compress to the stomach. You need to lie down in a comfortable position and abstain from water and food.

The operation is possible using laparoscopic and lapartomic methods under general anesthesia. The procedure is carried out at any age, it is not complicated, and the period of implementation does not take more than an hour. Under standard conditions, adolescents are discharged on the fifth day after surgery. To make a correct diagnosis, the doctor must examine and interview the patient, obtain a general analysis of urine and blood.

X-rays and ultrasound may be required. The doctor also needs to exclude the development of diseases with similar symptoms: ARVI, a number of acute viral infectious diseases (measles, chicken pox, scarlet fever), possible pathologies of intestinal development, inflammatory processes in the lungs and ureters. The signs of the development of these diseases are similar to those of acute appendicitis.

Possible complications

If medical assistance is not provided on time, an acute gangrenous stage of the disease may occur. Intoxication of the peritoneal organs occurs, the teenager complains of deterioration in health. If qualified assistance is not provided, blood poisoning is likely.

Manifestations of the acute gangrenous stage:

The child clearly identifies the location of pain.
Body temperature rises, nausea, sweating, and weakness intensify.
Tachycardia begins.
Delusional states are possible. To prevent inflammation of the appendix, a teenager should eat properly, regularly empty the intestines of feces, and prevent inflammatory diseases. It is important to treat any inflammation to the end.

The appendix performs certain functions necessary for the adolescent's body - it is a repository of beneficial microflora, protects the digestive tract from inflammatory diseases. The immune function of an organ is dangerous to itself, so it becomes inflamed under the right circumstances. Early symptoms of appendicitis in adolescents aged 15 years and older are similar to signs of the disease in adults. The same cannot be said about children aged 13-14 years. It is quite difficult to determine the signs of appendicitis in a teenager.

Etiology of development at a young age

The causes of appendicitis are currently not precisely established. Experts say that this disease develops against the background of an inflammatory process, the development of which requires mechanical conditions: the presence of bacteria in the intestinal area and blockage of the lumen of the appendix with feces. In the appendix, when it is removed, husks from seeds, bones and even small parts from toys are often found.

Do not self-medicate children and adolescents. If the causes of abdominal pain are not clear, call an ambulance!

Primary symptoms of inflammation

It is most difficult to diagnose appendicitis in children just entering adolescence - 13-year-olds. They cannot yet explain the exact symptoms of the disease. Therefore, the main task of parents is observation and timely seeking qualified help, and the doctor’s main task is to prescribe tests and hardware diagnostics.

Finding out on your own why a child’s stomach hurts is very difficult. Early signs of the disease in adolescents under 13 years of age are atypical. Diagnosis is complicated by the fact that the organ may not be located in its anatomical location. Accordingly, early symptoms (signs) of the disease can indicate anything:

When localized under the hepatic dome, the liver hurts “as if”.
If appendicitis is in the pelvic area, it hurts in the lower abdomen and above the pubis.
When the organ is located next to the bladder, increased urination and pain are observed.
If the appendix is located behind the cecum, the child feels pain in the lower back. It can also radiate to the groin.
The appendix, located near the rectum, when inflamed, causes pain during bowel movements.

The earliest symptoms (signs) of the disease in children under 13 years of age are a depressed state, a desire to lie on the left side and tuck the legs. Also characteristic are whims, tearfulness, and reluctance to have the stomach touched. Possible vomiting.

Slightly older teenagers - at the age of 14 - have a little easier symptoms. They already correctly describe the signs of illness: where it hurts the most, where the pain came from, how intense it is. Typically, early symptoms are pain in the navel area or in the pit of the stomach. After a couple of hours, the pain goes away and is localized on the right, in the iliac region, if the organ is located typically. It is smooth, without contractions and attacks, exhausting, and does not allow you to sleep normally. Vomiting is possible (once or twice). The temperature rises to 37.5-38.0 ° C, but may remain normal.

At the age of 14 years, children often show signs of acute appendicitis. The difficulty of diagnosis lies in the fact that such a patient does not immediately get to the doctor. The child goes to school for several days and leads a fairly active lifestyle until the condition worsens sharply. The result of prolonged inflammation of the appendix is a violation of the integrity of its membrane and its perforation. Diffuse purulent peritonitis develops, which can be fatal if the patient is not provided with emergency surgical care.

It is easier to diagnose appendicitis in teenagers aged 15 than in 13-14 year olds. They can clearly explain when the first symptoms appeared, where the pain was localized, whether it moved after it occurred, and where.

Parents can try to independently determine appendicitis in a 15-16 year old child:

Place your teenager on a flat, hard surface.
Gently palpate the right iliac fossa. If everything goes well, you can feel a small lump – a vermiform appendix.
Press lightly on it. This will cause pain. Wait for it to subside and then release abruptly. If a teenager is in pain, this is a sign of acute appendicitis.
Ask your teen to cough. If this action is responded to by pain in the right lower abdomen, suspicion of acute appendicitis is obvious.

Early symptoms (signs) of the disease in adolescents 15-16 years old are the same as in adults. Their body has almost formed, all organs have taken their places. It is more difficult to determine appendicitis in girls than in boys. Female representatives are experiencing puberty, and problems associated with it are quite likely - ectopic pregnancy, cysts, inflammatory processes in the appendages. Signs of appendicitis can be disguised as them.

In adolescents, a sharp increase in body temperature during illness is not typical, but possible. The usual readings are 37.5-37.7° C. The pulse rate is much higher than it should be at this temperature.

A teenager aged 15-16 years may not inform his family about the early signs of his illness for some time. In such a situation, careful monitoring by parents comes to the fore. If a teenager walks with an unnatural posture (the body is slightly tilted to the right), tries to carefully step on his right leg when sitting down, first touches the seat with his palm and only then carefully “lands on the fifth point” - signs of an inflammatory process in the appendix are obvious.

Stage of disease progression

In the absence of timely medical care, acute gangrenous or phlegmonous forms of the disease develop. This stage of disease progression is the most dangerous.

Symptoms of appendicitis in children in this case are associated with infection of the internal organs of the abdominal cavity. The cells of the appendix die, so the pain syndrome may subside. In this case, intoxication of the body occurs, which is accompanied by a deterioration in the child’s well-being. He begins to delirium. If left untreated, blood poisoning occurs.

The main manifestations of the advanced stage of appendicitis in children 13-15 years old:

A clear definition of the area of localization of pain in the abdominal area.
Increased nausea and increased body temperature to 38.0° C.
Weakness and sweating, tachycardia more than 90 beats/min.
The presence of peritoneal signs: tension in the abdominal muscle wall, delayed right iliac pain when breathing, increased pain when pressing on the abdomen and then releasing it.

In adolescents by the age of 13, in complicated cases, a sharp severity of hyperthermia is noted. There is severe anxiety. Repeated vomiting is possible.

What to do

If appendicitis is not treated on time at the age of 14-16, then a purulent process develops inside the body. In the absence of timely surgical treatment, there are high risks of developing complications that pose a serious threat to the life of a teenager: perforation of the organ walls, peritonitis, pylephlebitis of the liver veins, intestinal obstruction, appendiceal infiltrate and sepsis.

Appendicitis is treated only surgically. You can alleviate the patient’s condition before the ambulance arrives as follows:

Apply a heating pad with ice to your stomach.
Do not give painkillers under any circumstances.
Refrain from drinking water and food.
Place the child in bed so that he is in a comfortable position.

How to prevent

Proper nutrition and regular bowel movements are of great preventive importance. It is important to treat inflammatory diseases in a timely manner. Appendicitis develops rapidly and can often have an atypical course. If you feel unwell, consult your doctor, be it fever, dyspeptic disorders or abdominal pain.

The appendix is an important organ of the human body. If it becomes inflamed in teenagers, do not hesitate: take action already when the first signs of appendicitis appear. The disease develops rapidly, with characteristic manifestations and can cause severe complications. To prevent this from happening, a quick examination in a hospital and surgery if the diagnosis is confirmed are necessary.