Inflammation of the appendix is accompanied by inflammatory parameters and increased leukocytes.
The number of leukocytes in appendicitis is greatly increased. As important inflammatory values in the body, they point to the infection in the area of the appendix. In technical terms, doctors refer to the inflammation as appendicitis. If the infection spreads to the entire appendix, the caecum, typhlitis occurs. Appendicitis takes an individual course in all patients.
The leukocytes represent inflammation values – but do not always indicate appendicitis.
In the case of appendicitis, the leukocytes in the blood of those affected are above the normal range because the immune system is reacting to the inflammation in the body. The reason for such irritation of the appendix is due to stuck food debris. Thickened mucus also creates an additional obstruction.
Inside the appendix are bacteria that help with digestion. If a blockage develops, these pathogens penetrate the wall of what experts call the appendix. This is where the bacteria infect the walls of the appendix. The human organism always reacts in the same way to an infection with the pathogens mentioned, as well as to viruses or fungi. In order to start the defense against germs, there is an increased blood flow. The number of white blood cells increases drastically to fight the pathogens.
Thus, the inflammation values indicate appendicitis before the affected person feels the characteristic pain. Leukocytes and CRP are important indicators of appendicitis. The latter refers to the C-reactive protein. It multiplies specifically in the case of bacterial infections within the organism.
The number of leukocytes depends on the degree of inflammation
The course of an inflammation of the appendix is different in the affected patients. In some cases there is only a slight irritation. Other people complain of a severe infection with the typical pain. In the worst case, the wall of the appendix ruptures, so that the inflammation spreads to the entire abdominal area. The doctors speak of a perforation in the abdominal cavity. The result is peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum).
The increased number of leukocytes in appendicitis depends on the actual course of the disease. If there is only a small stimulus, the white blood cells increase to a value of up to 12,000 leukocytes in one microliter of blood. The normal value for women and men is between 3,800 and 10,500 white blood cells per microliter.
If the inflammation spreads within the wall of the appendix, the appendix ruptures. The bacteria multiply. The immune system immediately ensures an increase in leukocytes in appendicitis. This increases their value to over 13,000 white blood cells in one microliter of blood.
The clearly recognizable leukocytosis does not always indicate the degree of inflammation. In children, the leukocytes already increase significantly with appendicitis if the irritation is only mild. In older people, the leukocyte values change little or not at all. In order to diagnose appendicitis in them, doctors focus more on the CRP, which they also call the acute phase protein. Especially in the case of an acute infection, it represents an unmistakable marker due to its increased concentration.
The appendicitis cannot be determined with certainty
An increased number of white blood cells alone is no proof of appendicitis. The inflammation parameter CRP is also clearly above the normal range for other causes. In order to diagnose appendicitis, doctors pay attention to the typical symptoms. For example, sufferers in this case suffer from:
- Fever,
- Stomach pain,
- Pressure pain in the right lower abdomen area
- and nausea.
Taken by themselves, the signs constitute non-specific symptoms. If the elevated levels of inflammation in the blood are added, the doctors diagnose appendicitis. The decision as to whether an operation and thus the removal of the appendix is to be made is up to the treating surgeon.
The leukocyte values in appendicitis summarized
If the patients suffer from the typical abdominal pain, there is a suspicion of an infection in the area of the appendix. In this case, the inflammatory values such as CRP and the leukocytes in appendicitis are increased. In this way, the organism fights the bacteria that move from the intestine into the intestinal wall. Here they infect them, resulting in a mild or severe course of the inflammation. If the intestinal wall breaks through, the pathogens penetrate the entire abdominal cavity.
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