Chronic appendicitis: symptoms, causes, treatment

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Appendicitis is a disease that is characterized by an inflammation of the appendix. But there are situations when the inflammatory process is of a sluggish character. This pathology is called - chronic appendicitis. Usually it is observed as a result of an acute form of the disease. This is a rare enough pathology, but it can develop in every person. Therefore, what kind of illness and how it manifests itself, should be considered in more detail.

Causes of chronic appendicitis

This disease is characterized by inflammation in the wall of the appendix. Code for ICD 10 K36 - other forms of appendicitis. The exact cause of the development of the chronic form of the disease is difficult to identify. The most likely prerequisites for its occurrence are:

• mild inflammation of the appendix, which does not cause exacerbation;
• relapse due to acute appendicitis;
• parasitism;
• pathogenic viruses or bacteria.

It's important to remember! Under favorable conditions for the life of viruses and bacteria, the acute form of the disease most often develops!

Symptoms of chronic appendicitis

The disease usually does not occur asymptomatically. The most obvious signs of chronic appendicitis, which periodically disturb the patient:

• pain and heaviness in the lower abdominal cavity;
• aching pain in the right side of the abdomen;
• sharp sharp pain in the abdomen with excessive physical exertion;
• discomfort in the abdominal cavity due to overeating, especially when eating fatty foods;
• nausea, sometimes leading to vomiting;
• bloating;
• constipation or diarrhea;
• frequent urge to urinate.

The patient can also have a periodic increase in body temperature, especially in the evening.

Disease in men

Identification of the chronic form of an inflammation of an appendix in men has certain features, namely:

• at palpation of an abdominal cavity the right testicle is spontaneously pulled upwards;
• painful sensations in the region of the right testicle with easy sipping of the scrotum.

Therefore, in the presence of major symptoms, a man may suspect the development of chronic appendicitis on his own. Such signs are shown erased. At the moment of detection of ailments it is necessary to address to the expert who will lead qualitative diagnostics.

Chronic form of the disease in women

This disease causes women some malaise in the female genital organs. They begin to feel such uncomfortable sensations:

• painful sensations in the region of the waist, bladder and ovaries;
• acute pain in the lower abdominal cavity during menstruation;
• frequent and painful urination.

If a woman feels the above indispositions, a detailed examination is required. This will help to eliminate the inflammatory processes of the sexual organs, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, which cause such symptoms.

Chronic appendicitis in pregnancy

In this category of women, the presence of the disease is the hardest. This is due to the close arrangement of the appendix to the uterus, which systematically increases, the abdominal press is strained. That is, when probing the abdominal cavity, painful sensations are not always observed. Differential diagnosis is performed in cases when a pregnant woman consults a doctor with such complaints:

• regular blood pressure and heart rate jumps;
• slight increase in body temperature, especially in the evening;
• constipation or diarrhea;
• bloating;
• pain in the lower abdominal cavity.

The risk of appendix inflammation in pregnancy is that the appendix is ​​very close to the appendages. This can harm the development of the fetus. Therefore, surgery to remove the inflamed appendix is ​​prescribed in the first half of pregnancy.

Disease in a child

Chronic appendicitis in children is extremely rare. The disease is characterized by more pronounced symptoms than in adults. The child begins to regularly worry about exacerbations that are accompanied by such symptoms:

• body temperature increase;
• general weakness of the body;
• nausea, sometimes leading to vomiting;
• pain in the abdominal cavity resembling colic.

Do you have chronic appendicitis in children without symptoms? This disease is difficult to recognize, but with a palpation of the abdomen, the child feels uncomfortable sensations. If a child is suspected of appendicitis of a chronic nature, he must undergo a thorough examination in a hospital setting.

It's important to know! In children, this disease is characterized by frequent exacerbations! Therefore, if the child has regular illnesses, it is required to urgently consult a specialist.

Diagnosis of the chronic form of appendicitis

Differential diagnosis consists in the exclusion of inflammatory processes of the renal and genitourinary system. To detect chronic inflammation of the appendix, the patient is assigned to carry out such activities:

1. Laboratory examination of blood and urine. In people with chronic appendicitis, there is a significant deviation from the norm of leukocytes. Urine analysis helps to exclude kidney and urinary system diseases.
2. Radiography. Helps to identify the obstruction of the appendix as a result of excessive accumulation of feces.
3. Ultrasound diagnosis. This is one of the most informative ways to detect a disease. Unmistakably determines the chronic inflammation of the appendix, and also excludes diseases of the female genital organs.
4. Computed tomography. It is prescribed in cases when the results of ultrasound diagnostics are questionable. This happens in people who are obese. Computed tomography helps to assess the condition of the walls of the appendix, its shape and location.
5. Laparoscopy. Helps determine the further methods of treatment.

Based on the results of the studies, the doctor establishes a correct diagnosis. If the diagnosis was carried out during an exacerbation, then most often the doctor regards the disease as an acute appendicitis, and not as an exacerbation of the chronic form of the disease.

Treatment of the disease

To date, there is no specific tactic concerning the treatment of this disease. But most often the chronic form of appendicitis results in the removal of the appendix in the patient. This is especially true for women in early pregnancy.

Surgery is usually performed using a laparoscopic method. But with an atypical location or a farm of an inflamed vermiform appendage, an open surgical procedure is prescribed.

If the symptoms are lethargic and do not bother the patient in particular, then he is given various physiotherapeutic procedures and taking pain medications.

The duration of rehabilitation after surgery is about 2 weeks. During this period, the patient should take antibacterial drugs for a more rapid recovery.