Signs of Appendicitis in Children

Appendicitis is inflammation of the vermiform appendix, a small organ that is the beginning of the ascending colon. The inflammation occurs when it is blocked and retained fecal contents damage and infects the walls of the appendix.

It is characterized by vomiting, abdominal pain (usually located on the right area of the abdomen, immediately below the navel), and mild fever. The symptoms of appendicitis vary and may be complicated to diagnose in young children, elderly and women of childbearing age.

Among the symptoms that are visible in children we can find:

  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Chills and shaking

Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of emergency abdominal surgery usually occurs when a blockage of the appendix by feces, a foreign body or, rarely, a tumor.

The diagnosis, unfortunately, is essentially clinical and often very difficult, requiring surgery. The appendectomy is a simple surgery that involves removing the appendix, provided that there has been complicated by peritonitis, an inflammation of the peritoneum that occurs as a result of a burst appendix.

Complications are more frequent in late diagnosis and treatment is definitive, the surgical wound infection, abdominal abscess, intestinal obstruction and fistula occurrence are the most common, but together do not exceed 5% of all appendectomies.