Appendicitis
The appendix is a small appendage which is attached to the beginning of the large intestine or the colon. You can easily find the appendix in the lower right portion of your abdomen. As of now there is no known function for the appendix. If you are to remove the appendix there appears to be no change in any digestive function.
You get appendicitis when your appendix becomes inflamed. Once it begins, there is no known medical solution, so appendicitis is treated very seriously and is considered a medical emergency. If treated promptly, sufferers of appendicitis will in most cases recover without any problem. If there is a delay in treatment, the appendix can burst which can cause serious infection, and even in some cases death. In fact appendicitis is the most common acute surgical procedure performed on the abdomen. Anyone is prone to falling ill with appendicitis, but it appears that it is most common between the ages of 10 and 30.
The main cause of appendicitis appears to be some form of blockage inside the appendix (this is known as the lumen). This blockage can lead to an increase in pressure, which will result in a reduced blood flow and inflammation. If this is not treated, it can turn into gangrene, or even rupture which is very serious.
The most common form of blockage is faeces inside of the appendix. There are however bacterial and viral infections inside your digestive system, which can lead to the swelling of your lymph nodes which in turn puts pressure on the appendix and causes obstruction. When your lymph nodes become swollen, this is known as lymphoid hyperplasia. Sometimes, traumatic injury to the abdomen can lead to cases of appendicitis.
Symptoms of appendicitis are somewhat vague, but usually pain in the abdomen, which occurs firstly around belly button but then moved to the lower right area, is a classic symptom of appendicitis. Other symptoms can include constipation and diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite and a low fever that appears in conjunction with the other symptoms.
Any cases of acute appendicitis are treated by removing the appendix during surgery under general anesthetic. The procedure is relatively simple. The surgeon may make an incision in the lower right part of your abdomen or the surgeon may opt for use a laparoscope, which then would require three or four smaller incisions. A laparoscope is the preferred option, as the incisions are smaller, and the recovery time much quicker.
A recovery period of three to four weeks is usually the call of treatment with the doctor prescribing pain medication and asking the patient to limit any physical activities.
Quick Tip #1
Pain which starts in the area of the belly button and then slowly moves down to the lower right side of your abdomen is a classic symptom of Appendicitis. Make sure you are aware of these symptoms and contact your doctor if you have any reservations. |
Quick Tip #2
Make sure you contact a doctor if there are acute symptoms of middle/lower or right/lower abdominal pain in conjuction with any fever or vomitting.
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Quick Tip #3
If you are having these symptoms of abdominal pain for more than four hours, then you should seek an urgent medical evaluation at your doctors office immediately or you should go to your hospitals emergency department straight away |
Latest Appendicitis Articles
Symptoms Of Appendicitis In Children
As we already know that appendicitis is nothing but the inflammation of the appendix, eventually leading to infection if goes uncared.
Early Symptoms Of Appendicitis
The patients suffering from appendicitis may not have all the possible symptoms of appendicitis which are very common. Especially, among people with medical complications pregnant women, children and the elderly.
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