A sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen can be a sign of appendicitis. Although most often it occurs in people between the ages of 10 and 30, anyone can develop appendicitis at any age. In that regard, people onboard need to be aware of the signs and symptoms as terrible abdominal pain requires immediate medical attention.
Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is a finger-shaped pouch that sticks out from the colon on the lower right side of the belly, also called the abdomen. Although the exact cause of appendicitis is not known it is frequently due to a blockage at the entrance of the appendix leading to inflammation and swelling. If the appendix bursts it can lead to life-threatening complications such as Peritonitis
The West of England P&I Club has noted increasing incidence of cases whereby seafarers who had appendicitis misdiagnosed the symptoms, believing it to be purely abdominal pains.
Symptoms of appendicitis may include:
- Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen
- Sudden pain that begins around the navel and often shifts to the lower right abdomen
- Pain that worsens with coughing, walking or making other jarring movements
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Low-grade fever that may rise as the illness worsens
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Abdominal bloating
- Gas
Appendicitis can cause serious complications, such as:
- A burst appendix. A burst appendix, also called ruptured appendix, spreads infection throughout the abdomen, a condition called peritonitis. Possibly life-threatening, this condition requires immediate surgery to remove the appendix and clean the abdominal cavity.
- A pocket of pus that forms in the abdomen. If your appendix bursts, you may develop a pocket of infection, called an abscess. In most cases, a surgeon drains the abscess by placing a tube through your abdominal wall into the abscess. The tube is left in place for about two weeks, and you’re given antibiotics to clear the infection.
Once the infection is clear, you’ll have surgery to remove the appendix. In some people, the abscess is drained, and the appendix is removed immediately.
Action Plan
The West Club suggest the following steps for any emergency case related to Appendicitis:
- Ask patient whether they believe they have had their appendix removed
- Contact Telemedicine provider immediately
- Give medication as indicated by Telemedicine provider
- Do not give laxatives
- If the patient can reach a hospital within 4-6 hours: Do not give food/liquids or drugs, keep them in bed and record temperature, pulse and respiration rates
- If the patient cannot reach a hospital within 4-6 hours: Do not give food but they can be given non-alcoholic drinks. Record the patient’s temperature, pulse, and respiration rates hourly and start a fluid input/output chart.
- If the patient has appendicitis and symptoms improve, they must still be seen by a doctor at the next port. An improvement would mean feeling less pain and having a normal body temperature
