Appendicitis- Causes, Symptoms and Treatment methods

2021-12-13 18:36:42

Stomach ache is a common problem these days and almost everyone has it at some point or the other. There are many reasons behind this. One of these reasons is also appendicitis. The main reason for having Appendicitis is the hustle and bustle of people and modern lifestyle which leads no time for us to pay attention to our health. This leads to this many diseases. Anyway, in this changing environment, almost everyone has complaints of constipation and gas that is one of the main reasons for having an appendicitis. Symptoms of appendicitis are less visible in the early stages but if it is not treated in time or is ignored, this problem can get serious. Sometimes this problem becomes so complicated that it even proves to be fatal.

What is Appendicitis?

The risk of appendicitis is generally higher in people between the ages of 10 and 40. It is common in men than in women. Appendicitis is a bowel problem that is caused due to inflammation or infection in the appendix. The appendix is ​​the link between the small and large intestines which is a kind of bag shaped like Mulberry fruit. This link keeps coming out from the intestines. It is located in the lower right part of the abdomen. The problem of appendicitis occurs due to any kind of blockage in the appendix and bacteria start growing inside it which also cause stomach pain.

Types of appendicitis

There are mainly two types of appendicitis which are the following-

Acute Appendicitis-

Acute appendicitis is a serious problem, the symptoms of which start suddenly and tend to increase over time. These symptoms start appearing within a day or two. Therefore, acute appendicitis needs to be treated immediately. This problem takes a serious form if it is not treated in time or is ignored.

Chronic appendicitis-

The problem of chronic appendicitis is much less and more serious than that of acute appendicitis. Its swelling lasts for a long time. Sometimes it becomes very difficult to identify due to which this appendicitis becomes very difficult to treat. This type of appendicitis can prove fatal.

Symptoms of Appendicitis

Usually, the initial symptoms of appendicitis include mild pain in the lower abdomen, loss of appetite, etc. but as soon as this problem starts increasing, the stomach pain becomes the main symptom. Apart from this, there are some other symptoms as well. These are-

• Sharp pain in the right side around the navel or in the lower abdomen.
• Loss of appetite.
• Vomiting or nausea.
• Swelling in the abdomen.
• Feeling trouble urinating.
• Severe cramping in the stomach.
• Mild fever.
• Constipation or diarrhoea with gas.
• Feeling difficulty while passing bowel movements.
• White coating on the upper surface of the tongue.

Causes of Appendicitis

There can be many reasons for having appendicitis. According to experts, appendicitis develops when the passage or opening of the appendix is ​​blocked. This blockage is caused by the build-up of a thick mucus-like fluid inside the appendix. Apart from this, many things like hard stools, enlarged lymphoid follicles, deep wounds, etc., entering the appendix from the cecum are also a few of the reasons. This fluid or stool hardens and becomes strong like a stone which blocks the opening of the appendix. This stone-like thing is called Fecalith. When the opening of the appendix gets blocked, bacteria start to grow inside it due to which pus and swelling start to increase. As a result, there is pain in the stomach. If its symptoms are not recognized in time, then the swelling of the appendix keeps on increasing and the appendix can also burst. As a result, the infection by the bacteria spreads throughout the stomach which can prove to be serious or fatal.

Other causes of appendicitis-

• Having problems with digestion.
• On consuming unpasteurized food.
• On consuming excessive flour or junk food.
• Consuming more oily and spicy foods.
• When the amount of fibre in the diet is low.

Prevention methods for Appendicitis

• Consume a balanced diet that includes a good amount of fibre, fruits and green vegetables.
• Drink plenty of fluids and water.
• Do yoga and exercise regularly every day. By doing this, the digestive system of the body works smoothly.
• Pay special attention to hand hygiene before eating.
• Reduce intake of tea, coffee, smoking etc.
• Avoid alcohol consumption.
• Avoid consumption of fried and junk food.
• Chew the food properly while eating.
• Do not drink water while eating.
• Walk regularly in the morning.

Diagnosis & Treatment of Appendicitis

• To check for appendicitis, doctors do an ultrasound or CT scan.
• For its treatment, the pus present is taken out with the help of an injection.
• Antibiotics are used for its treatment because appendicitis is usually caused by infection.
• If there is severe pain in the position of the appendix, doctors recommend taking painkillers.
• The problem of appendicitis can be reduced by including fibre and fluid rich foods in the diet.
• In severe cases of appendicitis, surgery is used to remove it.

Home remedies for Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a serious problem. In this situation, getting medical treatment from a doctor is the best option. It cannot be completely cured with home remedies. By adopting these remedies, only the pain caused by it and some other symptoms can be reduced. Therefore, it is not the right decision to treat appendicitis with home remedies alone. Let us know about the home remedies to reduce the pain of the appendix and its other symptoms-

Eat fibre-rich food-

Foods high in fibre, such as wheat bran, lettuce, leaves, carrots, beans, peas, pumpkin seeds, soybeans, prevent stools from becoming too hard or too liquid due to which the digestion process becomes easy. Therefore, consuming fibre-rich food is one of the effective home remedies to reduce the symptoms of appendicitis.

Castor oil-

The use of castor oil proves to be effective in reducing the pain caused by appendicitis. According to a report published on the website of NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), ricinoleic acid is present in castor oil. It exhibits anti-inflammatory and analgesic (painkiller) properties which work to reduce the pain and inflammation caused by appendicitis to some extent. For this, apply castor oil in a cloth and keep it on the affected parts of appendicitis for some time.

Green tea-

Green tea also works to reduce the pain of the appendix because it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Apart from reducing the pain and swelling of the appendix, it works to relieve other stomach related problems. Many such nutrients are also found in green tea which is helpful in removing physical problems. For this, take a cup of green tea every morning and evening.

Ginseng tea-

Consuming ginseng tea is beneficial to reduce the symptoms of the appendix. It works to increase immunity and keep it strong due to which many diseases are cured. Also, improving the immune system can help to some extent in reducing the symptoms of appendicitis.

Ginger-

Ginger works well in many health-related problems. One of those problems is the appendix. As ginger is enriched with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, it helps in relieving both pain and inflammation. Therefore, taking ginger decoction is good in the appendix.

Consume fruit juice-

Fruit juices work to keep the body hydrated and are also beneficial for getting relief from appendicitis. Apart from fruits, carrot and beet juice also proves beneficial for appendicitis. The anti-inflammatory properties found in beetroot work to relieve the body from inflammation and promotes bowel movement and improves the digestion process.