Although little known, appendicitis in children cannot be ignored. It is the inflammation that occurs in a part of the intestine, which is called the appendix. According to Gláucia Finotti, pediatrician at Santa Catarina Hospital, the small organ is similar to the finger of a glove, located in the cecum, the first portion of the large intestine.

Thus, the most common symptom of appendicitis is severe, sharp pain. In addition, the patient may face lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and fever.

In most cases, inflammation occurs due to a high concentration of feces and bacteria inside the appendix. Because of this factor, the problem can arise at any stage of life.

To solve the problem, it is indicated to remove the appendix immediately through surgery that is recommended by the doctor. This way, the patient will not suffer with more serious complications.

Lack of treatment can lead to rupture of the appendix, which causes a generalized infection. Therefore, when inflammation is suspected, visit the doctor urgently to have the proper tests done, if the diagnosis is confirmed.

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Symptoms of appendicitis in children

The pediatrician, Glaucia Finotti, lists the main symptoms of inflammation:

• Abdominal pain or discomfort without localization;
• Severe abdominal pain in the lower right side;
• Nausea or vomiting;
• Loss of appetite ;
• Persistent low-grade fever;
• General malaise;
• Constipation or diarrhea;
• Swollen belly or excess gas;
• A lot of pain when touching the belly.

It is important to point out that the fever is not usually very high. It usually stays between 37.5º and 38º. This symptom is more common during the evolution of the inflammation, and not in the initial phase of the first symptoms.

If the fever is high, the appendix may have ruptured and secretions and feces may have leaked into the abdominal cavity. The alert should be on, since this is a serious diagnosis of inflammation and infection.

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Causes

There are several reasons why appendicitis occurs in children, so see below:

• Retention of fat or fecal remains inside the appendix;
• Gastrointestinal infections of viral or bacterial origin;
• External compression by tumors or polyps.

Diagnosis

The pediatrician at Santa Catarina Hospital explains that the diagnosis is made based on clinical evaluation and confirmed through leukocyte count, ultrasonography (US), and radiographic studies of the abdomen.

In the first consultation, the doctor may ask which parts of the child's abdomen hurt and if this symptom has changed places over time, so it's crucial to be as transparent as possible. This makes it easier to diagnose the inflammation.

Treatment of appendicitis in children

The treatment for acute appendicitis is appendectomy, either conventional or laparoscopic.

However, antibiotic therapy alone, with drugs against Gram-negative and anaerobic bacteria, is increasingly used by doctors, since it has the potential to considerably reduce the costs associated with surgery, as the pediatrician explains.

"Studies suggest that non-surgical therapy is safe, provided the patient has adequate follow-up and can undergo operative treatment if necessary," he adds.

Generally, if the inflamed appendix is removed before the rupture, the patient will not suffer any problems after surgery.

The recovery process is slower and there is a greater chance of an abscess or other complications. Therefore, patients with this condition remain in the hospital for a longer period of time under observation.

How should the surgery be post-operatively?

In the first 24 hours, start with a liquid diet. The patient should be careful when getting out of bed and walking around the house. These activities need to be done lightly. Also, carrying heavy weights or doing physical activity are activities that need to be ignored.

As for the diet, it needs to be fractionated, that is: consume smaller amounts at each meal. It is essential to make it clear that the eating interval cannot exceed four hours.

On the menu, we recommend avoiding fried food, fatty foods, condiments, pork, or sweets. This way, the tendency is for the recovery to occur more quickly.

Source: Dr. Glaucia Finotti, pediatrician at Santa Catarina Hospital .