Appendicitis （ in English
and Chinese 中英文)
by:
Joe Hing Kwok Chu
Diagnosis
Clinical diagnosis:
Digital rectal exam
Pelvic exam to evaluate the
size and position of the vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries;
also to help detect certain cancers in their early stages, infections, including
sexually transmitted diseases or other reproductive system problems.
Body temperature
Pressure application
a. knee
b. left quadrant
c. right quadrant
d. appendix location
Laboratory tests
WBC
to see if white blood cell count is elevated, a sign of infection. Normal
range of while cells for adults is: 4.5~11.0 X 103/µL
(SI units: 4.5~11 X109/L)
Urine test to exclude
urinary
infection or stones, which may also cause pain.
Imaging tests
X-ray to rule out other causes of pain
Ultra sound to check the size of the appendix which is 6 mm (0.24
in.) or less in diameter in a normal appendix; but the appendix cannot always
be seen with an ultrasound.
CAT SCAN (CT) may be used
when a diagnosis of appendicitis is uncertain. CT can be more accurate than
ultrasound in diagnosing appendicitis.
When the infection of the appendix is serious, there is a chance of it
bursting and causing infection of the abdomenal area which is a more serious condition.
CAT ,Computer Axial Tomography, is a series of
X-rays that show the human body in slices. Computer programs are being used
to turn the tomograms into pictures.
Chinese herb therapy
According to
Jin Gui Yao Lue:
In chang yong (carbuncle of intestine, appendicitis), the skin is dry
and cracked, the skin of the abdomen
is tight. It feels soft when pressed, and swollen, with no lump inside,
no
fever, rapid pulse. This means pus is formed. Use
yi
yi fu zi bai jiang san.
In zhong yong (swollen carbuncle), there is a lump in the lower abdomen.
When pressed it is painful as in gonorrhea, but urination is normal,
frequent fever, sweating, chills, slow tight pulse. It means the pus is
not formed and a laxative can be used. If the pulse is large and rapid, the
pus has formed, and a laxative should not be used. Use
da huang
mu dan tang.
《
金櫃要略》：
「腸癰之為病，其身甲錯，腹皮急，按之濡如腫狀，腹無積聚；身無熱，脈數，此為腸內有癰膿，