Appendicitis in children under 5 can be attributed to be a rare condition, as it is mostly known to affect people between the ages 10 and 30. Know more on this from the following article.
You must be aware of the appendix. In case you aren’t, it is a structure similar to a pouch and is on the lower right side of the abdomen. It remains as a projection from the colon. One important fact about this structure is that, it has no known essential purpose in the body. However, this does not stop it from causing problems.
Due to certain conditions, the appendix suffer inflammation and get filled with pus, and give rise to bouts of symptoms. Now as I have mentioned above, the condition is commonly recognized in people in the age group of 10 and 30, however, there may even be cases of appendicitis in children younger than 5 years. The standard treatment which doctors follow to deal with the condition and manage the symptoms is a surgical procedure.
General Symptoms of Appendicitis
The signs that may be indicative of appendicitis in children under 5 are no different from those which occur in adults. The only difference would be the noticeability or the prominence of the symptoms. This is because small kids may not be able to convey their discomfort in a proper way.
So the only prominent symptom which parents must pay heed to in their affected child is a constant complaint of pain that seems to begin somewhere around the navel. This pain may radiate to the lower right abdomen. Kids may complain about experiencing more pain while coughing, walking or making any jarring movements. Parents must apply some pressure on the lower right abdomen of their child. If they can feel tenderness in that area, it may indicate the problem of appendicitis.
Other symptoms which parents may notice in the child include constipation, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. Accompanying these, may occur flatulence problems, swollen abdomen, poor feeding and a low-grade fever. Now these symptoms may easily mimic those of other medical conditions. However, if these occur with the ones cited above, then it warrants a medical check up to rule out appendicitis.
Treatment Plan
As aforesaid, surgical removal of the appendix is the standard treatment procedure for dealing with the condition. The procedure is known as appendectomy. It may be an open appendicitis surgery, involving one incision (2 – 4 inches long) in the abdomen. Another option is to opt for laparoscopic surgery. Here, surgeons make several incisions to insert a video camera and special surgical tools to get rid of the diseased appendix. Patients may have to stay for about 2 days at the hospital post surgery.
Recovery and Self-Care Measures
The laparoscopic surgery offers faster healing and less scarring. However, not all may be suitable candidates for it thus, they may have to go with the open surgery procedure. During recovery, parents have to pay extra attention to their kids, to help them heal faster and without any sort of complication. Parents must advise their kids to avoid outdoor games or any other strenuous activities. This has to continue for about 10 – 14 days post surgery.
Also it is important to make children aware about the damage that may occur if they cough, laugh or make any other movements while they are recovering. So, advise them to embrace themselves with a pillow or something. If pain killers are not helping to reduce the pain, then the doctor must be called for. Help your kids move with short walks and let them sleep or rest whenever they feel tired or lethargic.
And to conclude, it is better to have a discussion with the doctor about the right time for your child to return to school. Generally, they can do so within a week post surgery, however, they must avoid any kind of strenuous activity.
