Child-Appendicitis-Symptoms---Could-my-Child-Have-Appendicitis

Child Appendicitis Symptoms - Could my Child Have Appendicitis?

It's a thought that freezes parents in their tracks. "Could my child have appendicitis?" While only a qualified medical professional can tell you if the discomfort your child is experiencing is caused by appendicitis, here are a few things to consider as you prepare to take your child to his doctor's appointment.

WHAT THE APPENDIX IS

The appendix is a small, hollow organ that hangs down from the lower right end of the large intestine. For decades scientists were at a loss to explain the function of this mysterious worm-shaped protrusion but a 2007 study may have produced at least part of the answer. This study discovered that the appendix acts as a incubator and storehouse for the body's beneficial flora--what doctors refer to as our body's "good" bacteria.

WHAT APPENDICITIS IS

When the appendix becomes inflamed, doctors call this condition appendicitis. Appendicitis can be caused by an infection or an obstruction of the passageway linking the appendix to the colon. In either case, if the condition is left unchecked, the appendix can actually rupture, resulting in a life-threatening medical emergency.

SYMPTOMS OF APPENDICITIS

The most recognizable symptom of appendicitis is pain that radiates from the navel and moves down and the the right. Typically, you child's pain will become worse if he or she sneezes, breathes too deeply or if pressure is applied to the abdominal area.

APPENDICITIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY

If your child's appendicitis progresses to the point of rupture, his or her life may be in jeopardy. This is why appendicitis is almost always considered a medical emergency and why so many appendectomies are performed in industrialized nations.

If your child's doctor suspects appendicitis, he or she will probably run a battery of tests that include CT scans or ultrasounds. Your child may be given antibiotics and perhaps even anti-nausea medications. If removal of your child's appendix is necessary, your doctor will make arrangements for surgery.

For even the most level-headed parent, appendicitis is a frightening condition to deal with. But by knowing the facts, you can help your son or daughter better face this medical emergency.

References:

Randal Bollinger, R., et al. (2007). Biofilms in the Large Bowel Suggest an Apparent Function of the Human Vermiform Appendix. Journal of Theoretical Biology.

posted 1/15/2008
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