How to respond to signs of appendicitis in children

Children with appendicitis are a pediatric emergency. The disease can directly threaten the life of a child if not detected and treated promptly. However, in fact, there are still many parents who do not have a correct understanding of the danger of this disease. So, how to react to signs of appendicitis in children?

Children with appendicitis have some typical clinical signs as follows:
Abdominal pain around the navel, right iliac fossa: This is a characteristic sign of appendicitis. This type of pain usually begins with the child complaining of abdominal pain around the navel followed by localized pain in the right iliac fossa. Signs of infection: Children with appendicitis often have signs such as dry lips, dirty tongue. Mild fever: The child may have a fever of 38 - 38.5 degrees Celsius or only when the inflamed appendix is ​​broken does the fever occur. Abdominal distention: This is a common sign when children have appendicitis pain. Loss of appetite: When colic persists with discomfort, children tend to have no interest in their favorite daily foods or drinks and lose their appetite. This is also a warning sign of common childhood appendicitis. Other signs such as fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal distension due to intestinal irritation accompanied by nausea, vomiting. Signs of diarrhea may or may not be present, but presence increases the likelihood of a diagnosis. Vomiting and diarrhea in pediatric appendicitis are also easily confused with signs of digestive disorders.

To diagnose a child with appendicitis, the doctor will appoint the following methods:
Ultrasound is a subclinical method with good diagnostic value. This method is non-invasive and does not harm children. When a child has appendicitis, the image of the appendix will be larger than normal, possibly inflammation, see the fluid in the abdomen, see the ovaries in a girl... Abdominal ultrasound helps in differential diagnosis with appendicitis. other diseases. Blood tests may be used to check for signs of infection or inflammation. Urine tests may be used to identify urinary tract infections or kidney stones. CT scan: CT images or ultrasound of your child's abdomen may be used to examine the appendix. The doctor will inject contrast fluid to help the appendix show up better in the scans. Parents need to provide more information about contrast allergy if their child has a history of allergies.

Signs of appendicitis in children may appear incomplete. When the child shows signs of suspicion of appendicitis, parents should temporarily not feed the child. At the same time, the most necessary thing is to take your child to the doctor right away.
If the child has a lot of abdominal pain, there is no sign of improvement after 1-2 hours with accompanying signs such as vomiting, loose stools or fever, it is necessary to take the child to the hospital for monitoring. In addition, parents should not arbitrarily use pain relievers if the child has abdominal pain without determining the cause. Overuse of drugs when the cause of the disease is unknown can make symptoms disappear and make it difficult for specialists to accurately diagnose the disease.
The most common treatment for appendicitis in children is appendectomy. If the appendicitis is not treated or removed in time, the appendix can rupture, leading to peritonitis, which is life-threatening to the child. When an appendix abscess ruptures and produces fluid and pus, it must be treated immediately.

After surgical removal of appendicitis about 6 hours, depending on the condition, the child can eat and drink normally again. Parents should let their children start eating from soft and liquid foods such as porridge, diluted porridge, .... After 24 hours, children can eat familiar, common dishes in the daily menu. After a period of rest and proper care according to instructions from medical professionals, the child will recover and leave no complications later.
In summary, the point to note in child care is that parents should pay attention to monitor all the daily expressions of their children to promptly detect the earliest signs of dangerous diseases. All treatment measures only with timely intervention can bring the best effect.
Pediatrics Department at Vinmec International General Hospital is a reliable place to receive and examine many diseases with infants and young children, including pediatric appendicitis. ... With the most modern equipment system, sterile space, minimizing the effects as well as the risk of disease spread. In particular, the dedication from doctors, nurses with professional experience with pediatric patients, makes the most effective examination and care for children and is no longer a concern of parents.

References: drugs.com, healthline.com