Introduction
Appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix) is a serious disease that requires treatment and occurs in about one in a thousand pregnancies. The cause is an inflammation of the appendix of the appendix (caecum). It is crucial that the disease is detected and treated in time, which usually requires surgical removal of the appendix. With timely treatment, a danger for mother and child can usually be averted. A particular difficulty of appendicitis in pregnancy is that the leading symptom of right-sided lower abdominal pain often does not occur in this way due to a displacement of the appendix.
How dangerous is that?
If appendicitis in pregnancy is detected and treated in time, it usually has no long-term consequences for mother and child. However, if the disease is diagnosed too late or is not treated quickly enough, in the worst case life-threatening consequences for both. An increasing inflammatory reaction of the appendix appendix appendix appendix can ultimately lead to a rupture of the organ, so that pus and stool can enter the abdominal cavity.
This leads to peritonitis which, if left untreated, can lead to the death of mother and child. It is therefore important to take the signs of appendicitis seriously and, if in doubt, to have a medical examination at an early stage. It should be noted, however, that many of the possible signs of appendicitis are non-specific and occur more frequently during pregnancy due to harmless causes. These include nausea and back pain, for example. In order to avert the potentially dangerous course of appendicitis, one should therefore pay attention to the body’s signals (without being constantly worried about a serious illness) and, if uncertain, seek the advice of a doctor in good time.
Indications
The first signs of appendicitis in pregnancy are usually very unspecific and can also occur due to a harmless cause. Typical are abdominal pains, which often start in the region of the navel and cannot be localized exactly. In the course of the disease, the pain often moves to the right.
In non-pregnant women as well as in the first months of pregnancy, the pain typically moves to the right lower abdomen and can be localised there exactly. In the course of pregnancy, the intestine including the appendix is displaced upwards by the growing uterus, so that the pain can also become more severe. In addition to a migration of pain, a change in the character of the pain from dull to sharp and bright is typical.
In some pregnant women, however, the pain is mainly felt in the back. Since back pain is a common symptom, especially during pregnancy, with a mostly harmless cause, it can be difficult to distinguish it from a sign of appendicitis. Mostly, however, additional signs such as fever, nausea and vomiting occur. Anyone who is unsure whether symptoms are signs of appendicitis should consult their gynaecologist. If the symptoms are increasing and pronounced, an emergency presentation to a doctor or direct notification of the emergency services may also be indicated.
