Bokeh and children

How to create beautiful bokeh

Bokeh is a short, expressive word designed to replace the long and complex formulation “the nature of the blur of the background and foreground in the out-of-focus zone.” The word “bokeh” itself is of Japanese origin and came into widespread use in the late 1990s. In Japanese, this word means “blurry” or “fuzzy”, which is quite true).

Admittedly, bokeh for a photographer is much more than just “fuzzy.”

If you prepare it in a very primitive and generalized way, then bokeh is blurring that is obvious to the eye in far or near areas of the image. Some photography articles refer to bokeh as a defect. But photographers really love this “defect” and often buy more expensive lenses just for the sake of this “defect”.

Briefly about the advantages of bokeh for photography:

Bokeh makes it easy to separate the foreground from the background.
What is sharp appears even sharper against a blurred foreground and/or background
With the help of bokeh, any light source turns into an abstract bright object of one form or another (depending on the design of the lens). Most often these objects are round. Photographers usually affectionately call these objects “bokeshechki”, “bokeshki”.
Bokeh can disguise an ugly background and even turn it into a beautiful one if there are spots of light and beautiful “bokehs” are obtained.
Bokeh hides details, allowing the photographer to show what is important and what is secondary in a photograph.
Bokeh is one of the ways to convey volume in a photograph.

We will have a separate article about the volume. In the meantime, let's talk about what determines the quality of our bokeh.

Many photographers, even experienced ones, simply forget that bokeh can (should!) be influenced from different angles.

So, the main 4 ways to influence the beauty and quality of our bokeh:

1. Everyone who has studied the theory of photography at least a little knows this. Of course, the first thing that will give us beautiful bokeh is a wide open aperture. Wide is from 2.8 and wider. Or better yet, 2.0. In the photo for this article, the photograph was taken using a Canon 85 mm lens, aperture 2.0.

2. The focal length of the lens plays a huge role.
The rule “the more the better” applies here. That is, 135 is more than 85. Therefore, ALL OTHER things being equal, for example, if you shoot from one point and the aperture values are the same, then the bokeh in a photograph taken with a lens with a focal length of 135 mm will be softer, deeper and, simply put, more “blurry” than the bokeh in a photograph taken with an 85mm lens. Is it clear by this logic? that with a 24 mm lens the background will be sharper than with a 50 mm lens, and so on. I emphasize that all other parameters in our comparison are the same - aperture number, distance to the subject and from the subject to the background. Otherwise there will be confusion.

The first two points are usually very clear to a photographer - buy a lens with a larger focal length and open the aperture wider.
And it works! But there are some other important nuances for creating beautiful bokeh in a photograph. These are the ones that everyone usually forgets about!

3. The third parameter is the distance from the camera to the model! There is also a simple principle here: the closer you are to the subject, the better the background behind the subject is blurred.

Here's a look at two photographs.
They are both made with the same Canon 85 mm f/1.8 lens. The aperture is the same - 2.0. What has changed? Why is there moderate, pleasant bokeh in one photo, where details can be distinguished, and in the second we just have fabulous “Hollywood” bokeh, the entire background is blurred, details are not visible, but there are elegant multi-colored round bokeh? The whole point is that I just approached the model. The settings are the same, the photographic equipment is the same, but the distance has been reduced. Here comes a decrease in depth of field, here comes an increase in the “bokeh” effect.

As you probably already guessed, in close-up portraits the bokeh will always be more pronounced than in half-length and full-length portraits, simply because to take a close-up we will need to get closer to the model.

4. And finally, the fourth parameter is the distance from the subject to the background. That is, the further away the background is from the model, the more blurry it will be.

Look at these two photos. Here are “secret places for photography” from Katya Upit: behind the models is a deep ravine. And the bokeh you see is the trees on the other side of the ravine. It is precisely due to the fact that there is a distance of about 50 meters behind the models that the bokeh turns out so airy, without details and with an additional effect of depth.

So never “glue” models to the background if you want to get the most out of the bokeh effect.

I think you have already imagined that perfect bokeh is obtained if you take the longest lens possible, open the aperture to maximum and get close to the model standing on the edge of the abyss.

In an ideal world, everything would be like this. But in practice we have limitations and mutual exclusions. Anyone who has experience working with long-focus optics understands well that you cannot get very close to the object. Why? Yes, because you simply won’t be able to focus on it! Therefore, long-focus optics will keep you at a distance from the object. Try to get closer to the person you are photographing with a lens that has a focal length of 135 mm: how close can you get. I’ll tell you right away the correct answer - about one and a half meters. Otherwise you won't be able to focus.

But with fifty dollars (50 mm) you can get very close. Therefore, many are surprised to note that a lens that doesn’t seem to blur the background, like 50 mm, can produce wonderful bokeh when shooting details. The magic here is precisely in the ability to shoot fifty dollars from a distance close to the object.

Another important point: some technical nuances seem to balance each other out. If you shoot at a focal length of 200 mm, then even at aperture 5.6 the background may be very blurry (if the object is at least a few meters away from the background, see point 4). Many people are surprised: how can it be that the aperture is clamped, but there is still bokeh! But look how long our focal length is - as much as 200 mm! At this focal length, the depth of field will be small even with a closed aperture.

And if you take a wide-angle lens, for example 24 mm, and set the aperture to 1.4, photograph the entire person, then we will practically not see the bokeh effect. Yes, the aperture is open very wide. But we have a wide-angle focal length and a large depth of field!

And another example of the “magic” that comes from knowing all the nuances of controlling depth of field and the bokeh effect. Look at this photo - it was taken with a Canon fisheye 15 mm f / 2.8 ultra-wide-angle lens.

What do you see? You see. that the background is blurred, and quite strongly. Why is that? Because we are very close to the subject of our shooting (see point 3). Of course, a wide open aperture also plays a role, but still the close distance to the subject is the main thing here. So, as you can see in the example, even at an ultra-wide angle you can shoot with the “bokeh” effect.

I can guess what you’re thinking right now: “Interesting article.
But there is so much! How not to get confused in this?” I give simple tips. I recommend that all my students buy a lens with a fixed focal length of 85 mm. My choice is Canon 85 mm, aperture 1.8. Inexpensive, very durable (my copy is already 11 years old), fast, sharp in the focus area, with beautiful bokeh. And it weighs a little (which is important!).

If you want to get beautiful bokeh, then try to have more space behind the model: an alley in the park, a cliff, a street (going into the distance), and so on. This will give you the desired “bokeh” effect, which is associated with the separation of the model from the background. Also open the aperture according to the situation from 2.5 to 1.8 and shoot. Remember, if you move away from the model to take full-length portraits, the bokeh will be more detailed. If you approach the model and take close-up portraits, the bokeh will be more blurry (re-read point 3).

That's all the basic rules and tips.
Take the camera in your hands and go ahead, create and get creative!

Read all the useful tips for photographers here: useful tips for photographers.

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What is bokeh and what affects it?

Bokeh is a generally accepted word intended to replace the long and complex formulation “the nature of the blur of the background and foreground in the out-of-focus zone.”

Bokeh is the appearance of different objects that are out of focus of the lens. This applies to both distant objects and those located directly in front of the photographer. All lenses have different bokeh and depend on several parameters.

What determines the strength of bokeh?

1. Aperture of your lens

The larger the aperture, the greater the background/foreground blur.

2. Lens focal length

The longer the focal length (zoom), the more pronounced the blur of the background and foreground. At the same time, a large focal length (for example, a telephoto lens) provides fairly strong blur even with a relatively small aperture.

3. Distance to the subject and background/foreground

The closer the sharp subject is to you and the further away the background, the more blurred that background is. Take a look at the image above and notice that although the background is blurred, the branches next to the model remain sharp.

So, background blur depends on three factors. Changing at least one of them greatly affects depth of field and bokeh.

What determines the bokeh pattern?

As we have already noticed, the design of all lenses is different. Some lenses blur the background into mush, others create a lot of torn rings, and others seem to twist it. The nature of image blur depends on the design features of the lens. The general trend is this: in older lenses with manual focusing, large, thick glass and a small number of lenses, the bokeh has a more plastic, voluminous pattern, often very aggressive and highly distracting.

Here, as an example, is a photograph taken with a Helios-40 lens - an old Soviet portrait lens with aperture ratio 1.5. There are many drops behind the flower. As you can see, they look quite contrasting and even torn.

Photography on Helios 40 - bokeh

And the next photo was taken with a cheap Nikon lens Nikkor 50 1.8D. A similar effect is observed, but the “bokehs” (background circles) are less contrasting

Bokeh Nikkor 50 1.8D

Or here’s another photo taken on Helios-40. Notice how the background swirls.

Bokeh test Helios 40

The following photo shows an example of background blur using the Tokina 100 2.8 macro lens. As you can see, the circles have less contrast, the swirling effect is weaker:

Bokeh Tokina 100 2.8

However, many people forget that in addition to background bokeh, there is also foreground bokeh. Here is an example of how the Nikkor 80-200 2.8D lens works; there is both a background and a foreground. There are leaves that have climbed between the model and the photographer, which you can see as yellow spots.

Bokeh Nikkor 80-200 2.8

How can I get bokeh from my lens?

Everything is simple and complex at the same time.

Open the aperture to maximum. To do this, it is better to set the A (Av) mode on the camera and set the F value to minimum. For example, it could be 1.8, 2.8, 3.5...
Set the maximum focal length (zoom to maximum). If you have a very powerful zoom, then limit yourself to some common sense.
Make sure that your model is close enough to you (1.5-4 meters, if we are talking about a person. 10-15 cm, if we are talking about macro), and the background behind the model is as far away as possible (at least 10 meters, and preferably a kilometer for a person , 30cm and more for macro).
Take a photo. Everything should work out.

The following photo has foreground bokeh (hands), a sharp child and background bokeh (background)

Here the foreground bokeh is the glasses, a sharp child, and the background bokeh is the floor.

How to achieve bright circles in bokeh?

To get pops of color and contrast in the bokeh, you need to have highlights in the background. This could be foliage, light bulbs or drops of water illuminated by the Sun. It is important that they are far enough away for blur to appear, but not too far away so that detail is lost. For example, this photograph of a cone was taken at sunset after rain (how to photograph flowers in drops of water?), and there is no additional processing.

Photo, bokeh, drops

Which lens should you choose for the strongest bokeh?

There are different solutions for different situations.

For a classic portrait, focal lengths from 85 millimeters are used (for a full-frame camera), and maximum blur here is achieved by the aperture value: 2.0, 1.8, 1.4, 1.2 - these values provide maximum blur and shallow depth of field.

For reportage portraits, telephoto lenses are used. Their aperture does not exceed 2.8, and often photographers use much “darker” lenses with an aperture of 3.5-5.6. In this case, background blur is ensured by a large focal length - from 135 millimeters.

For macro , the aperture size does not play a decisive role. The determining factor here is the distance to the subject. At such a close distance, even at aperture 10, the depth of field may be too shallow. This is why macro lenses are often not very fast, but they allow you to close the aperture very much.

"Bokeh" and children

The term "bokeh" refers to the position of the desired object in focus, while everything behind it, that is, the background, turns into small blurry circles of translucent light. In our case, the subject of shooting is the child’s face.

If you want to get the result described above, work with the settings of such shooting parameters as aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Start adjusting your camera settings by setting autofocus in the camera menu, for which select the “focus on one point” option. You should not shoot in the “automatic face detection” mode, because It is desirable that the focusing center (autofocus point) be directed towards the child's eyes.

Note: On the ring framing the lens of your camera there are divisions with the “___mm” indicator. The lens ranges from 15 – 85 mm, allowing the lens to zoom in and out like binoculars. The higher the number, the more bokeh the lens can create.

Now let's return to setting the parameters that were mentioned at the beginning of the article.

Aperture (diaphragm). Correct settings for this parameter are the key basis for the desired result. The lower its value, the blurrier the bokeh will be. In a technical sense, the wider the aperture, the more difficult it is to get a sharp focus on the selected object - the child’s eyes, so it’s worth keeping the child busy with something interesting and waiting for your model to get so carried away that she stops posing for the camera. This is the only way you can capture the most natural moment.

Excerpt. Helps minimize motion blur in the photo. The higher its value, the faster the camera shoots. Any value up to 160 is suitable for bokeh.

ISO. I recommend setting this shooting parameter to 200. The higher this figure, the better for subsequent printing of the image.

In total, you need to set the following camera settings:

ISO at 200
Aperture 2.8 or smaller
Shutter speed at 160

Point the camera at your model and set the focus point on the eye of the child who is near you. Press the shutter button halfway (the camera will automatically focus on the selected object) - in this position you have the opportunity to recompose the photo; if you press the button all the way, the photo will be taken.

Don't be upset if you don't get the desired result the first time. It might be worth adjusting the settings. If the child's face is too dark, experiment with the ISO value (increase the value), and if it is too light, adjust the shutter speed upward.

Much in photography depends on practice. Using it as a guide, you will be able to independently determine which settings are most relevant in each individual case. So practice and gain valuable experience in creating bokeh photos.

Why does my child's lower left abdomen hurt?

Mechanism of abdominal pain

A child's stomach can hurt for various reasons. The most common is spasm of the hollow organs. The walls of the intestines, ureters, and fallopian tubes in girls contain smooth muscle cells. With a pronounced increase in smooth muscle tone, a spasm develops, accompanied by a narrowing of the lumen of the hollow organ and the appearance of cramping pain.

In addition, the cause of pain may be:

Inflammatory reaction in tissues - due to the influence of a provoking factor, cells and extracellular structures are damaged, and immunocompetent cells accumulate at the site of the pathological process. They produce biologically active compounds (prostaglandins) responsible for pain.
Direct mechanical damage to tissues and nerve endings in them.
Swelling in tissues - against the background of an inflammatory reaction, the permeability of the vascular walls increases, plasma enters the intercellular substance, which leads to swelling and mechanical compression of sensitive nerve endings.

Finding out the mechanism due to which the side hurts on the left and below allows you to select the most optimal treatment measures.

Diseases in the digestive organs that cause pain in the left side

The stomach can begin to hurt under the influence of a large number of factors. For ease of diagnosis, they are divided into intestinal and extraintestinal.

Changes in the digestive system that can lead to discomfort include:

Functional disorders - after eating a large amount of food, fatty, fried foods, spasms of the colon develop with the appearance of pain in various parts of the abdomen. The changes are accompanied by bloating, called flatulence, which increases the feeling of discomfort.
Intestinal infection with localization of inflammatory changes in the lower parts of the gastrointestinal tract: pain in the lower abdomen on the left appears due to the development of shigellosis, intestinal amebiasis. They are cramping in nature and are accompanied by diarrhea. Damage to the lower parts of the colon is characterized by the appearance of pathological impurities in the stool in the form of streaks of blood, mucus, and pus.
Sigmoiditis is an inflammation of the sigmoid colon, which is a part of the large intestine and is localized in the lower abdomen on the left. Pathology develops due to the influence of various factors, including the autoimmune process.
Diverticulitis is a pathological condition accompanied by the formation of a protrusion in the wall of the colon followed by an inflammatory reaction.
Nonspecific ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of non-infectious origin, accompanied by damage to the mucous membrane of various parts of the colon and the formation of ulcers and erosions.
Volvulus is an emergency condition accompanied by acute intestinal obstruction. It often develops in children under one year of age due to a decrease in the tone of various parts of the intestine. In older children, volvulus is formed due to the presence of connective tissue adhesions in the abdominal cavity.
Coprostasis is the accumulation of feces in the lumen of the lower parts of the colon.
Appendicitis - inflammation of the appendix of the cecum is characterized by the fact that pain is predominantly localized in the right lower abdomen. With an atypical anatomical location of the appendix, discomfort may occur on the left side.

Intestinal causes lead to the appearance of abdominal cramps equally regardless of gender.

Other reasons why a child’s lower left abdomen hurts

Non-intestinal causes include various pathological conditions that do not affect the organs of the digestive system.

Causes not related to gastrointestinal diseases:

Splenomegaly is an enlargement of the spleen, which develops due to the influence of various factors, including pathology of the immune system and blood system. In this case, the pain appears on the left under the rib, and then spreads down. Discomfort is often accompanied by shortness of breath associated with compression of the lower parts of the lungs by the enlarged spleen.
Diseases of the genitourinary system, which lead to discomfort in the girl. The inflammatory process in the ovaries and fallopian tubes is accompanied by pain of varying nature and intensity in the lower abdomen on the left or right.
Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder, which most often develops in girls and is accompanied by pain and stinging that intensifies during urination.
Inguinal hernia with strangulation of the contents of the hernial sac - the condition usually develops in a boy; it can be triggered by heavy lifting and is accompanied by severe pain.
Pathology of the heart, accompanied by irradiation of pain in the lower abdomen, mainly on the left. Rarely seen.
Suffered abdominal injuries , usually in the form of a bruise, which are more common in boys, who are more mobile and more often find themselves in traumatic situations.
Intercostal neuralgia is an aseptic inflammation of the peripheral nerves that pass between the ribs. Unpleasant sensations are usually localized in the area of the pathological process, usually intensifying during movement, taking a deep breath and exhaling. They often radiate to the lower abdomen on the left or right.
Lymphadenitis is an inflammation of the lymph nodes that are localized in the intestinal mesentery; it is accompanied by the appearance of intermittent discomfort of varying intensity.

If pain in the left side is not associated with eating and is not accompanied by signs of dyspepsia, then in most cases they are of extraintestinal origin. But in any case, the diagnosis should be carried out by a pediatrician.

What to do if your child’s lower left stomach hurts

If pain appears in the abdomen on the left and below, then regardless of the severity and nature of the discomfort, consultation with a doctor is required. A large number of causes of pain are classified as urgent pathologies and require prompt therapeutic measures.

If necessary, the doctor prescribes an additional examination, which includes ultrasound, radiography, laboratory blood and urine tests.

Treatment is selected individually based on the examination results. It may include conservative measures with the prescription of medications of various pharmacological groups or surgical intervention.

The operation is usually indicated for urgent pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. In modern medical clinics, to reduce tissue trauma and reduce the likelihood of complications, the intervention is performed laparoscopically.

Pain in the lower abdomen in a child can be dangerous regardless of his age and gender, as it is often a symptom of some serious pathology. It is important to evaluate other signs of possible disease. To reliably determine the cause of discomfort, as well as provide adequate treatment, you should contact a specialist.

Myth or truth: is sitting in a W position harmful?

The Internet is replete with information that if parents notice their child sitting in a W-shaped position, sitting between the heels, then they should immediately change him! Let's figure out whether this situation is really harmful

WHY DO CHILDREN SIT IN A W-SHAPED POSITION?

The W-position is a position in which children, sitting on the floor, move their knees together, placing the parts of their legs below the knees on the sides, with their toes pointing outward.

This position is extremely convenient for children. Due to the fact that the lower part of the legs is located on the sides of the body, the area of support increases, which makes it easier to keep the pelvis and body straight. This helps maintain balance and frees up your hands to play. It is not surprising that many children with cerebral palsy prefer to sit this way.

WHAT IS THE HARM OF W-POSE?

During the formation of the body (in childhood and adolescence), joints are characterized by hypermobility. If there is no discomfort and no damage, then hypermobility is not considered a pathological indicator, and as the child grows and bone and cartilage tissue matures, it goes away. However, when sitting in the W position, there is a risk of joint injury: due to the fact that the upper thighs are rotated significantly inward, pressure is placed on the hip and knee joints.

Moreover, the child may have problems regulating the position of the body in space, because Despite its stability, the position restricts the child’s movements: it does not allow him to fully explore the space on the sides and behind. Also, this position can contribute to the deformation of the child’s spine into a curved position.

Thus, one should avoid sitting in a W-shaped position for long periods of time.

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF W-SHAPED POSITION?

This type of sitting as an exercise will be useful for children with “O” - shaped curvature of the legs. “O”-shaped curvature of the legs occurs when the bones of the lower leg are deformed and is externally manifested in the non-closure of the legs in the knee area.

WHAT ALTERNATIVE POSITIONS CAN BE OFFERED TO A CHILD?

You can offer your child other options for playing while sitting:

1. “Half Lotus” position, “Turkish” - sitting with crossed legs, legs bent and crossed in front.

This is a very good alternative to the “W” pose. Its advantage is that it provides the child with a stable position, allows him to sit without slouching too much, it puts normal pressure on the hip joint, reduces the load on the hips and knees, and also stretches the muscles of the inner thigh. This position will be useful for “X”-shaped curvature of the legs, that is, when the legs close at the knees, but do not close at the ankles and feet.

2. Kneeling squat - this pose is achieved by kneeling on the floor and lowering your buttocks onto your heels.

Children like to sit this way because in this position it is very easy to keep the pelvis level and the back straight, which means it is easier to maintain balance. This makes it easier for them to use their hands and play. The disadvantage of sitting on your heels is that your hips and knees are bent and your ankles are bent downwards. If children always sit on their heels, they are not stretching their hamstrings and ankles.

3. Side-sitting position - the child sits on one side with his legs bent to the other side.

This position provides a large area of support, therefore it is stable and comfortable for play, especially if the child leans on one hand and plays with the other. However, this position does not distribute pressure evenly on the hip joints, and the child may lean to one side instead of sitting upright. This position should also not be used for long periods of time.

4. “V” - position - sitting on the floor with legs straightened in the form of a slingshot.

Unlike the above positions, in this position the child’s legs are not bent. Sitting in this way, the child can go about his business for a long time and without stress on the spine, since this position does not hinder the child’s movements. However, sitting upright in it is much more difficult than sitting on your heels.

WHAT DOES FOLLOW FROM THIS?

In the absence of developmental disabilities, few children like to sit still. Children are constantly moving and changing their position! However, if a child shows little variability in sitting position, you need to teach him to sit in different ways, encourage him to change positions, in order to help stretch the leg muscles during games and activities.

8 symptoms of meningitis that every parent should know about

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Meningitis is a disease associated with inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. The etiology of this disease varies, but the symptoms are generally similar between species.

It is believed that children are most susceptible to this disease. Therefore, Bright Side decided to remind parents how to recognize meningitis in a child and what symptoms they should pay attention to first.

Sudden fever

One sign of meningitis is a fever that starts suddenly. The child begins to tremble and complains that he is cold all the time.

The patient's temperature quickly rises, which can be difficult to bring down. But since this symptom is a sign of many diseases, you should also pay attention to other features in the change in the child’s condition.

Strong headache

Headache with meningitis is often not just severe, but almost unbearable. In this case, the pain often also constrains the patient’s neck, but due to the fact that the patient’s head literally “splits,” he may not pay attention to it.

In newborns, a characteristic feature is also a bulge in the fontanel area.

Double vision

A patient with meningitis cannot focus his vision, which is why the image in his eyes constantly doubles.

Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting

A patient with meningitis loses his appetite. This is partly due to persistent nausea, which may be accompanied by abdominal pain and vomiting.

Photosensitivity

Another sign of meningitis is a fear of bright light, which can cause the child's eyes to water, as well as worsening nausea and headaches.

Stiff neck

A child with meningitis is in a special recognizable position: lying on his side with his head thrown back and legs bent. When he tries to straighten his neck, he often fails.

Inability to straighten legs

Even if it is possible to tilt the child’s head to the chest, his legs immediately bend at the knees, which are impossible to straighten in this position. This phenomenon is called upper Brudzinski syndrome.

With meningitis, Kernig's syndrome also appears along with it. With it, it is impossible to straighten the leg at the knee if it is raised approximately 90°.

Skin rashes do not turn pale

With meningitis, skin rashes are also possible. A simple test can help distinguish them from rashes that are not associated with meningitis.

Take a glass of clear glass, apply it to the rash and press so that the skin under the glass turns pale. If the rash also turns pale, it means there is no meningitis. If the rash has retained its color, you should be wary.

What to do?

Meningitis is a dangerous disease, so if you notice its symptoms, you should immediately call an ambulance. Before the doctor arrives, you need to provide the patient with peace, quiet and dim the lights in the room.

The arriving physician must be told about all the symptoms detected. It is categorically not recommended to refuse hospitalization if you suspect meningitis, since it can only be effectively dealt with in a hospital setting.

If it hurts in the right side, it’s appendicitis.

Appendicitis is the most common disease in pediatric surgery. It is the cause of about 75 percent of emergency operations in children. Parents cannot always immediately determine that the child’s illness is caused by inflammation of the appendix, therefore, as a rule, children go to the doctor with acute pain.

Georgy Sergeevich Poddubny, MD, PhD, pediatric surgeon at the SM-Doctor clinic for children and adolescents, told Letidor in detail about what this disease is and what signs it can be identified by.

What it is

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, also called the appendix. It is a tubular structure with a narrow lumen, about 5-8 centimeters long. Being an appendage of the cecum, it communicates with it. The appendix is located in the right iliac region and usually descends to the entrance to the pelvis. Sometimes located behind the cecum, rising towards the liver.

Why does it become inflamed?

The appendix is an organ that performs the same function for the intestines as the tonsils do for the lungs. The vermiform appendix in children contains accumulations of lymphoid tissue and plays a role in the formation of local immunity. Therefore, inflammation often occurs in it itself in response to the inflammatory process in the child’s body during ARVI, intestinal infections, and so on. Inflammation of the appendix, or acute appendicitis, is one of the most common surgical diseases that occurs in children of all age groups, but is less common at an early age and practically does not occur in the first year of life.

Pediatrician of the Alfa Health Center clinic Elena Dmitrievna Makushina comments: “There are several theories for the development of inflammation of the appendix: an infectious theory, according to which the development of the disease is provoked by the influence of local microflora that has become pathogenic; vascular, when the appendix becomes inflamed due to spasm of the blood vessels, which provide nutrition to this appendix; theory related to foods that clog the body; Sometimes acute appendicitis is provoked by helminthic infestation. Everything is individual, but if we talk about products as factors in the development of appendicitis, these are primarily clogging products: seeds, chips, crackers, and the like.”

On which side does appendicitis pain?

Diagnosing appendicitis in children is often a difficult task, since this disease can be hidden under the masks of other pathologies, such as intestinal infection, right-sided pneumonia, ARVI with abdominal pain syndrome and others. The task becomes more difficult when it comes to babies, who cannot explain what kind of pain and where they are experiencing.

Parents need to know that the characteristic symptoms of acute appendicitis are constant pain in the abdomen, mainly in the right side. Often at the beginning of the disease, pain occurs near the navel, and then seems to descend to the right iliac region. In this case, the child experiences an increase in body temperature (most often to subfebrile levels - 37.1-38.0 degrees) and changes in the general blood test, which indicate inflammation. The process is usually accompanied by a decrease in appetite, nausea, vomiting, and a change in the frequency and nature of stool. When the doctor does an ultrasound, it is possible to detect enlargement and thickening of the appendix.

What to do and what is prohibited

If a child has abdominal pain, it is necessary to urgently consult a surgeon. If appendicitis is suspected, the doctor gives a referral for a blood test and ultrasound of the abdominal organs. Without a surgeon's prescription, parents are prohibited from giving their children painkillers and performing various physical procedures, for example, warming the abdomen with a heating pad.

How the operation is performed

It is possible to get rid of acute appendicitis only surgically, by removing the inflamed appendix. The abdominal cavity is also examined and sanitized. Surgeries in children are prescribed for emergency indications after preparatory procedures: taking the necessary tests, infusion therapy (drip administration of drugs intravenously or under the skin), ECG.

Elena Dmitrievna Makushina comments: “Modern medical capabilities make it possible to abandon extensive abdominal surgery and use a non-invasive laparoscopic method, that is, the appendix is removed through a small hole in the abdominal wall. The suture after appendicitis will be invisible. In many clinics, surgeons use absorbable sutures—they do not need to be removed. The inner threads dissolve over time, and the outer threads fall off. For young children, the operation is performed under general anesthesia.”

The duration of such an intervention for uncomplicated appendicitis is about 30 minutes. In the postoperative period, the child receives the necessary pain relief and antibacterial therapy with broad-spectrum antibiotics.

What happens after appendicitis surgery?

Children are discharged after control blood and urine tests and an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity on average on the fifth day after surgery. The stitches are removed after a week. No special diet is required after appendicitis. But during the first 3-5 days, solid food intake is prohibited (soups, purees are preferred), bread and fiber are limited. During the first month after surgery, the child is prescribed limited physical activity.