QHSE/SD/2014/XI/6

Identifying Appendicitis
What is Appendicitis?
Appendicitis is a condition in which there
is an inflammation within the appendix
caused by swelling or infection. The cause
of the infection usually because of
bacteria that invades the appendix. This
bacterias are derived from feces that
infiltratein into the appendix.
Appendicitis would be very dangerous if
its not treated because the complication
will cause intestinal rupture and infection
in abdominal cavity leading to death.

Symptoms of Appendicitis:

What we need to know are the

early symptoms of appendicitis so
we can take the proper medication
and treatment to prevent severe
complications.

1. Acute abdominal pain (usually in

navel or solar plexus)
2. The pain will move, within 24 hours
or more, toward the right lower
quadran. This pain is colicky
(intermittent, not continuous). When
the pain changes from colicky to
continuously,
it
means
the
appendicitis gets worse because it
has infected the lining of the
gastrointestinal tract
3. Fever will be exhibited along with
the pain.
4. There is a possibility of nausea,
vomiting and diarrhea
5. If the symptoms get worse, patient
will not be able to defecate or fart

QHSE/SD/2014/XI/6

Other ways to confirm symptoms of

appendicitis by performing several physical
examination as follows:
1. Rovsing Sign, characterized by pain in
the Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) of the
abdomen when doing a palpation on the
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) of the
abdomen
2. Obturator Sign, characterized by pain
on the RLQ when hip and knee are
flexed then rotated towards inside and
outside (endorotation articulatio coxae)
passively, it shows inflammation of the
appendix lies in the hypogastrium
3. Psoas Sign, occurs when the psoas
muscular is stimulated by inflammation
of the appendix
There are 2 ways to check:
a. Active: The patient lies on their back,
straighten right leg and held by
examiner, the patient flexes their
right joint hip and they will feel pain
on RLQ.
b. Passive: The patient is tilted to the
left, right thigh is hyper-extended by
the examiner and they will feel pain
on RLQ.
4. Dunphy Sign, sharp pain in the Right
Lower Quadrant of the abdomen when
coughing.
5. Markle Sign, pain in the Right Lower
Quadrant of the abdomen when the
patient stands on his toes to the heels
with a jarring landing.

Left Lower Quadrant

of Abdomen

Rovsing Sign
Right Lower
Quadrant of
Abdomen
Obturator Sign

Psoas Sign
How do I prevent appendicitis?
According to research, there is no
specific preventive measures for this
disease. However, when viewed from
the factors that can trigger the
inflammation, several things can be
done to reduce the possibility of this
disease such as:
1. Maintain a good diet
2. Avoid drinking beverages which
contain gas, alcohol and soda
3. Reduce eating foods that
contain seeds that are too small,
too flat or too hard because the
seeds will be difficult to be
digested and may be left in the
appendix
4. Fulfill your fiber needs to reduce
the possibility of accumulated
feces in the colon