Appendicitis
Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a 3.5 inch long tube of tissue that extends from the large intestine. No one is completely convinced what the function of the appendix is. Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires prompt surgery to eradicate the appendix. If it's not treated on time, an inflamed appendix will ultimately burst or perforate, spilling infectious materials into the abdominal cavity. This can further lead to peritonitis, a serious inflammation of the abdominal cavity's lining that can be fatal unless it's treated quickly with strong antibiotics.
Causes
Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes clocked, frequently by stool, a foreign body or cancer. Blockage might also occur from infection, since the appendix swells in response to any infection in the body.
Symptoms
• Dull pain near the navel or the upper abdomen that becomes sharp as it moves to the lower right abdomen. This is generally the first sign.
• Loss of appetite, nausea and/or vomiting soon after abdominal pain begins
• Abdominal swelling, fever of 99-102 degrees Fahrenheit, inability to pass gas
• dull or sharp pain anywhere in the upper or lower abdomen, back or rectum
• painful urination, severe cramps, and constipation or diarrhea with gas
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of appendicitis starts with a thorough history and physical examination. Patients frequently have an elevated temperature, and there generally will be moderate to severe tenderness in the right lower abdomen when the doctor pushes there. If inflammation has spread to the peritoneum, there is frequently rebound tenderness. Rebound tenderness is pain that is worse when the doctor quickly releases his/her hand after gently pressing on the abdomen over the area of tenderness.
At times, it can be difficult to diagnose appendicitis. The position of the appendix in the abdomen might differ. Most of the time, the appendix is in the right lower abdomen, but the appendix like other parts of the intestine has a mesentery. This mesentery is a sheet like membrane that attaches the appendix to other structures within the abdomen. If the mesentery is large, it lets the appendix to move around. Moreover, the appendix might be longer than normal. The combination of a large mesentery and a long appendix lets the appendix to dip down into the pelvis (among the pelvic organs in women). It might also let the appendix to move behind the colon. In either case, inflammation of the appendix might appear to be more like the inflammation of other organs, for instance, the pelvic organs of a woman.
Homeopathy for Appendicitis
Homeopathy can be an effective solution for appendicitis. It follows the principle of like cures like and believes in treating the individual rather than the disease. There are several homeopathic medicines that are used in treating various ailments and appendicitis is no different. With more and more people opting for this alternative option, the popularity of homeopathy has no limit.