Appendicitis
Appendicitis is the most common of all serious
intestinal disorders. It refers to an inflammation of the vermiform appendix.
It presents itself in acute and chronic forms and affects both the sexes equally.
This disease now accounts for about half the acute abdominal emergencies
occurring between the ages of 10 to 30. It is more frequent in developed
countries than underdeveloped countries. The appendix is a small tube located
at the end of the caecum, the first part of the large intestine. It is called
vermiform appendix as it resembles a worm. It is usually eight to ten cm. long.
Its structure is made of the same tough fibrous outer covering as protects the
entire alimentary canal. There is a layer of muscular tissue under the outer
covering and further a layer of lymphoid tissue. The function of the appendix,
which is performed by this lymphoid tissue, is to neutralise the irritating
waste material generated in the body or the organic poisons introduced through
the skin or membranes.
Symptoms
Appendicitis usually begins with a sudden pain in the
centre of the abdomen, which gradually shifts to the lower right side. The pain
may be preceded by general discomfort in the abdomen, indigestion, diarrhea or
constipation. The patient usually has a mild fever varying from 100° to 102°F. Nausea is common, and the patient may vomit once or twice. The
muscles of the right side of the abdomen become tense and rigid. The patient
draws some comfort by drawing up the right leg. The pain increases on the right
side on pressing the left side of the abdomen. Coughing and sneezing makes the
pain worse. If the inflammation continues to increase, the appendix may rupture
and discharge its pus into the abdominal cavity. This may result in a serious
state known as peritonitis. The temperature rises and the patient becomes pale
and cold. This condition may call for urgent operation. In the chronic state of
appendicitis, the patient may suffer from recurrent pain in the right lower abdomen
with constipation, loss of appetite and mild nausea.
Causes
Appendicitis is caused by a toxic bowel condition. An
excessive amount of poisonous waste material is accumulated in the calcium. As
a result, the appendix is irritated and over-worked and becomes inflamed. It is
an attempt on the part of nature to localise and "burn up" the
toxins. This condition is brought about by wrong feeding habits and enervation
of the system. Inflammation of the bowel lining, due to the habitual use of
apparent drugs, is a potent predisposing factor in the development of
appendicitis. Further inflammation and infection comes from certain germs which
are usually present in the intestinal tract.
Treatment
The patient should be put to bed immediately at the
first symptoms of severe pain, vomiting and fever. Rest is of utmost importance
in the treatment of this disease. The patient should resort to fasting which is
the only real cure for appendicitis. Absolutely no food should be given. Nothing
except water should enter the system. Low enemias, containing about one pint
(1/2 liter) of warm water should be administered everyday for the first three
days to cleanse the lower bowel. Hot compresses may be placed over the painful
area several times daily. Abdominal packs, made of a strip of wet sheet covered
by a dry flannel cloth bound tightly around the abdomen, should be applied
continuously until all acute symptoms subside. When the acute symptoms subside
by about the third day, the patient should be given a full enema containing
about 1 1/2 liter of warm water and this should be repeated daily until the inflammation
and pain have subsided. The patient can be given fruit juices from the third
day onwards. This simple treatment sensibly applied will overcome an
appendicitis attack.
After spending three days on fruit juices, the
patient may adopt an all-fruit diet for a further four or five days. During
this period, he should have three meals a day each meal of fresh juicy fruits. Thereafter,
he should adopt a well-balanced diet based on three food groups namely, (i)
seed, nuts and grains, (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits. In case of chronic
appendicitis, a short fast should be followed by a full milk diet for two or
three weeks. In this regimen, a glass of milk should be taken every two hours
from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the first day, a glass every hour and a half the next
day and a glass every hour the third day. Then the quantity of milk should be
gradually increased so as to take a glass every half an hour, if such a
quantity can be tolerated comfortably. After the full milk diet, the patient
should gradually embark upon a well- balanced diet, with emphasis on fresh
fruits and green leafy vegetables. Certain vegetable juices, especially carrot
juice, in combination with the juices of beets and cucumbers, have been found
valuable in the treatment of appendicitis. Regular use of tea made from
fenugreek seeds has also proved helpful in preventing the appendix from
becoming a dumping ground for excess mucous and intestinal waste. The patient
of appendicitis should adopt all measures to eradicate constipation, if it is
habitual. Much relief can be obtained by the application of hot fomentation and
abdominal packs every morning and night. An abdominal massage is also
beneficial. Once the waste matter in the calcium has moved into the colon and
thence eliminated, the irritation and inflammation in the appendix will subside
and surgical removal of the appendix will not be necessary. The surgical operation
should be resorted to only in rare cases, when the appendix has become
abscessed.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through
www.scribd.com
No comments:
Post a Comment