Your child has been complaining of abdominal pain for several hours, but none of the usual remedies like hot tea, Tylenol, or plenty of rest are helping. Immediately, a familiar feeling of anxiety begins to rear its ugly head. Is this an appendix? There are several ways to tell the difference, but today I would like to introduce a method called the jump test.
As a refresher, the appendix is a “finger-like tube” that connects to the large intestine in the lower right side of the abdomen, says pediatrician and medical director Dr. Kristen Navarrette. MVP Healthcaresays SheKnows. If it weren’t for what happens when you get infected, that is, when you get appendicitis, you probably wouldn’t have heard about this disease. “Appendicitis is inflammation and bacterial overgrowth or blockage of the appendix,” says pediatric surgeon Dr. James Davis. Pediatric Surgical Associatessays SheKnows. Appendicitis can affect anyone, but it is most common in children between the ages of 5 and 15.
The difficult thing for parents is to distinguish whether their child has a general abdominal pain or something like appendicitis. As a reminder, appendicitis is considered a medical emergency. If appendicitis is not treated, “the appendix can rupture,” and the infection can spread throughout the abdomen, which can be life-threatening, Navarrette said. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to easily determine whether your child’s (or your own) abdominal pain is an appendix problem.
What is the jump test for appendicitis?
A jump test is a good way to check if appendicitis is a possibility, especially in young children who can’t describe the pain or its location. “This is one of the easiest and most user-friendly tests you can run,” says Davis.
To perform a jump test, have your child raise their hands in the air and jump towards the ceiling. “If this causes significant abdominal pain, research suggests there is up to a 70% chance that the child has appendicitis,” he explains. For context, he quotes: 2019 survey The researchers found that the jump test, when combined with blood tests, “successfully predicts which children will urgently require surgery.”
Navarrette points out that the jump test itself should not be used to diagnose children. Consider it a signal that it’s time to seek medical help. And if the pain persists or gets worse (even if there was no pain when the child jumped), you should see a doctor so that the doctor can find the cause. teeth This is causing the problem.
Related article
7 yoga poses to prevent bloating
Symptoms of appendicitis
It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with other signs and symptoms of appendicitis so you can identify or rule out appendicitis when your child becomes ill or has pain. Masu. According to Navarette and Davis, common symptoms include:
- Sudden pain in the lower right side of the lower abdomen
- Pain that starts at the belly button and moves to the lower right side of the abdomen
- Pain that worsens with rapid movements (such as coughing, walking, taking deep breaths, being touched)
- fever and chills
- nausea and vomiting
- back pain, pelvic pain, or testicular pain
Abdominal pain is “the most common feature of appendicitis,” Davis says. It often starts as a “vague pain around the belly button,” he explains, but “within 24 hours, the pain localizes to the right side of the patient’s abdomen, below the belly button.”
It is also worth noting that there are some diseases whose symptoms are similar to appendicitis. “Gastroenteritis, constipation, and urinary tract infections can all cause appendicitis-like symptoms,” Davis notes. However, if your child is experiencing “progressive pain”, especially in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen, or is having trouble staying hydrated, they should see a doctor.
Treatment of appendicitis
If your child is showing symptoms of appendicitis, take them to the emergency room for treatment as soon as possible. Once the doctor confirms the diagnosis, your child will undergo an appendectomy, or surgery to remove the appendix. This can be done either through traditional open surgery or “minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery,” Navarrette said. She said both surgeries have a “low risk of complications,” adding that appendectomy is one of the most common surgeries performed on children.
Dr. Navarrette says laparoscopic appendectomy usually has a quick recovery process, especially if it’s done when the appendix is newly infected (as opposed to when it ruptures). Although everyone’s body is different, she says, “Most children return to normal activities about a week after surgery.” Open surgery requires a longer recovery time, with patients required to stay in the hospital for an average of five days, Davis said. Symptoms may include fever, abdominal swelling, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, and treatment requires antibiotics and medications.
Despite being extremely common, appendicitis can be a frightening topic, especially if your child may be suffering from the condition. The best thing to do is to stay calm, understand the symptoms of appendicitis (such as pain during a jump test), and be sure to take your child to the hospital if you see any signs.
Before you go, shop for your child’s favorite products to treat cold symptoms.
