Whenever my children complain of tummy pain, I worry that it might be appendicitis. But what exactly is appendicitis?
Appendicitis is inflammation and infection of a small blind sac of tissue that extends from the beginning of the large intestine. The condition is almost always a medical emergency and requires immediate surgery.
Appendicitis is rare in babies younger than a year but is more common in older children and particularly in teenagers. It can be worrying when a young child complains of tummy pain, for which there can be a variety of causes. These could include anxiety, urinary tract infection, gastroenteritis or Crohn's disease.
You should be aware of the classic signs of appendicitis, but in the absence of these never ignore your parental sixth sense; seek medical advice if in any doubt.
How can you tell the difference between a normal tummy pain and appendicitis?
The classic pain associated with appendicitis usually starts in the centre of the tummy, moving gradually to the lower right section of the abdomen, worsening over a few hours.
However, in a child under the age of two it may be difficult to locate the exact point of pain and they are more likely to be irritable or listless.
Older children sometimes develop diffuse tummy pain rather than pain located exactly over the appendix and, because of this, diagnosing appendicitis in children can be a challenge.
Other signs and symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, pain radiating down the leg or to the lower back. Mild fever, the urge to urinate and mild diarrhoea or constipation can also occur.
As the inflammation worsens, the tummy may become distended and become rigid to the touch.
What's the treatment?
If appendicitis is suspected, then treatment with intravenous fluids and antibiotics may be commenced, while blood tests and an ultrasound or scan of the abdomen is performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Appendicitis requires surgery to remove the inflamed appendix. If left untreated, the appendix can seal itself off or may rupture, spilling bacteria and faeces into the abdominal cavity. This can result in a potentially life-threatening infection of the abdominal cavity called peritonitis.
You should remember that not all children with appendicitis exhibit the classic symptoms, so if you are in any doubt, seek medical attention as a matter of urgency.