Thursday, December 23, 2010

ALTERNATIVE THERAPY SERIES NO: 16 APPENDICITIS


APPENDICITIS

SYMPTOMS
The classic symptoms of appendicitis include;
  • ·         Dull pain near the navel or the upper abdomen that becomes sharp as it moves to the lower right abdomen. This is usually the first sign.
  • ·         Loss of appetite
  • ·         Nausea and/or vomiting soon after abdominal pain begins
  • ·         Temperature of 99 F to 102F
  • ·         Constipation or diarrhea with gas
  •  Almost half the time, other symptoms appear, including;
  • ·         Dull or sharp pain anywhere in the upper or lower abdomen, back, or rectum
  • ·         Painful urination
  • ·         Vomiting that precedes the abdominal pain

WHAT IS APENNDICITIS

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the Appendix, a 31/2 –inch-longtube of tissue that extends from the large intestine.The Appendix contains lymphoid tissue and may produce antibodies; however no one is absolutely certain what its function is. One thing we do know : we can live without it, without apparent consequences.
   Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires prompt surgery to remove appendix. Left untreated, an inflamed appendix will eventually burst, or perforate, spilling infection into abdominal cavity. This can lead to peritonitis, a serious infection of abdominal cavity’s lining (the peritoneum) that can be fatal unless it is treated quickly with strong antibiotics.
  Sometimes a pus-filled abscess forms outsides the inflamed appendix. Fibrous scar tissue then “wall off” the appendix from the rest of the abdomen, preventing infection from spreading. An abscessed appendix is a less urgent situation, but unfortunately, it can’t be identified without surgery. For this reason, all cases of appendicitis are treated as emergencies. In the united states, 1 in 15 people gets appendicitis. Although it can strike at any age, appendicitis is rare under age 2 and most common between ages 10 and 30.
   
CAUSES       

      Appendicitis occurs when the tube shaped appendix becomes blocked, often by fecal material, a foreign body, or cancer. Blockage may also be due to infection: like other lymphoid tissues, the appendix swell in response to any infection in the body. As it expands, its opening gradually closes.

  DIAGNOSTICS AND TEST PROCEDUTERS

Diagnosing appendicitis can be tricky. Times is a critical, yet appendicitis symptoms are frequently vague, or extremely similar to other, less urgent ailments (including bladder infection, colitis, Crohn’s Disease, gastritis, gastroenteritis, and ovary problems). By gently pressing on your lower right abdomen, your doctor will feel for a hardened, inflamed appendix. Appendicitis can cause rectal pain instead of abdominal pain, so your doctor will also examine your rectum by inserting a lubricated, gloved finger. A blood test will show if your white blood cell count is elevated, meaning your body is fighting infection. CT- scan and ultrasound have proved fast and reliable though not perfect in reveling appendicitis.

TREATMENT
 Surgery to remove the appendix, which is called appendectomy, is the standard treatment for appendicitis.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE

 If appendicitis is even suspected, physicians tend to err on the side of safety and quickly removed the appendix to avoid its rupture. If the appendix formed an abscess, you may have two procedure one to drain the abscess of pus and fluid, and a later one to remove the appendix.

  Antibiotics are given before an appendectomy to fight possible peritonitis. General anesthesia is given, and the appendix is removed through a 4-inch incision. If you have peritonitis, the abdomen is also drain of pus. Within 12 hours of surgery you may get up and move around. You can usually returned to normal activities in two or three weeks. If surgery is done with a laparoscope (a thin telescope like the abdomen ), the incision is smaller and recovery is faster.

  ALTERNATIVE CHOICE 

If you have appendicitis you need a physicians care, but alternative therapies can be helpful in preparing for or recuperating from appendectomy.

  ACUPRESSURE

 Massaging the following points each day can help to speed your recovery from appendectomy. To improved appetite and intestinal function, massage stomach 36 and bladder 25; add large intestine 4 to calm pain; liver 3 to reduce abdominal bloating; and spleen 6 to promote overall healing. See the Appendix  for information on point locations.

HOMEOPATHY

 Taken before surgery, one dose of Phosphorus (30 c) may help minimize nausea dissipates. After surgery, applying a solution of Hypericum and calendula (4 drops of each, added to 1 cup water) three or four times daily can help your incision heal.

AT HOME CARE
·      
    Keep your incision clean to promote healing and avoid infection.
Once your incision has closed, prick open a vitamin E capsule and apply the gel directly to your wound to minimize scarring.

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