Chronic appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix that occurs over a long period of time, from weeks to years. Appendicitischronichappens when Appendix blocked by stool, foreign body, tumor, ordue to swelling due to infection.
Until now, the exact cause of appendicitis or chronic appendicitis is still debated. Several studies have linked this condition to inflammation or blockage of the appendix repeatedly, intermittently, and over a long period of time. However, there are also those who claim that this condition is caused by problems with the nerve activity of the appendix.
Chronic appendicitis usually has mild symptoms, making it difficult to detect. Therefore, it is important for you to recognize the various symptoms of chronic appendicitis, so that chronic appendicitis is treated immediately and does not cause serious health problems.
Symptoms of Chronic Appendicitis
Symptoms of chronic appendicitis are generally non-specific and can mimic the symptoms of many other diseases, such as urinary tract infections, ovarian cysts, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
However, there are some symptoms that are commonly felt by sufferers of chronic appendicitis, namely:
- Stomach pain in lower right
- limp body
- Fatigue
- Nauseous
- Diarrhea
- Fever
Chronic appendicitis that is not detected immediately can cause more severe symptoms, such as:
- Severe stomach ache
- Swollen belly
- High fever
- Nausea, with or without vomiting
When it's severe, chronic appendicitis can cause various complications, such as acute appendicitis, ruptured appendix, peritonitis, and sepsis.
HandlingChronic Appendicitis
If you feel symptoms of chronic appendicitis, immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will perform a physical examination and other supporting tests to detect the possibility of chronic appendicitis.
The recommended investigations include blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound, X-rays (with barium enema), CT scan, and MRI.
If the results of your examination are positive for appendicitis, the doctor will provide treatment according to the severity of the appendicitis suffered.
In cases that have not been accompanied by complications, the doctor may give antibiotics. However, giving antibiotics has a risk of recurrence of appendicitis in the future, so appendectomy or appendectomy is generally recommended.
Appendicitis is not a preventable disease. However, the risk of suffering from this disease can be reduced if you eat lots of fiber-rich foods, such as vegetables and fruits.
If you feel the symptoms of chronic appendicitis as mentioned above, you should immediately consult a doctor. This is important so that you can get treatment quickly.
