ACUTE APPENDICITIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21924, 6 October 1934, Page 7 (Supplement)

ACUTE APPENDICITIS

DANGER UNDER-ESTIMATED .. It is only a little while since there was an exaggerated fear of the dangers of appendicitis and of its removal by operation. Now the matter is too lightly regarded by many, and the idea seems to be prevalent that an attack of appendicitis is a trivial matter if an operation is performed. Even to-day in the best hospitals the death-rate of acute appendicitis is far higher than is generally realised. Appendicitis cases vary very considerably in severity, and there are no symptoms that can accurately disclose the condition of the appendix. The safest course is operation within the first 24 to 36 hours. If this is not done peritonitis, abscess and other serious complications may occur. Appearancu ol Symptoms The symptoms of an attack of acute appendicitis occur with dramatic suddenness. There is pain of a severe nature, and frequently the patient vomits. There may be only nausea in some cases. The pain is not at first in the right side, but in the very middle of the abdomen, and remains in this situation for some hours. Later it travels to the position of the appendix. At this stage there is soreness and tenderness in the lower right portion of the abdomen, and frequently the skin in this region is sensitive to the slightest touch or to gentle stroking. If the case is neglected the pain may become worse, but if the appendix bursts the pain completely disappears for a few hours. In some severe cases there is rigor or* shivering attack. In most cases there is constipation, but in some of the most serious cases there may be diarrhoea. Home Treatment The most important part of -home treatment while waiting for a doctor, or when there is any possible suspicion of appendicitis, is to give nothing but water, and, above all, not. to give an aperient. An aperient makes the attack far more dangerous. No aperient should be given without medical advice in any case of sudden severe abdominal pain unless there is diarrhoea, and the case is obviously one of food or other poisoning. This advice applies even more strongly in the case of children, for appendicitis frequently occurs in young children and sometimes even in babies. Chronic appendicitis is a disease with totally different symptoms. This is little or no pain over the appendix, but there is almost constant dyspepsia, that resists ordinary measures for its relief. The dyspepsia comes on as a rule with a certain regularity at a particular interval after meals. Such indigestion is caused by some disease in the abdomen. It may be chronic appendicitis, gall stones, ulcer, etc., and should be investigated by a medical «man.