Appendicitis Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Appendicitis is a condition in which your appendix becomes inflamed and fills with pus. Your appendix is a finger-shaped pouch that projects out from your colon on the lower right side of your tummy. This small structure has no well-known essential function, but that doesn’t mean it can’t cause problems.
Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a 3 1/2-inch-long tube of tissue that extends from the large intestine. No one is absolutely certain what the function of the appendix is. One thing we do know: We can live without it, without visible consequences.
Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires prompt surgery to remove the appendix. Left untreated, an inflamed appendix will eventually burst, or perforate, spilling infectious materials into the abdominal cavity. This can lead to peritonitis, a serious inflammation of the abdominal cavity’s lining (the peritoneum) that can be fatal unless it is treated quickly with strong antibiotics.
What Causes Appendicitis?
Appendicitis results from the blockage that occurs on the inside of the appendix, known as appendiceal lumen. The bacterial or viral infections in the digestive tract lead to swelling of lymph nodes, which squeezes the appendix and causes obstruction. This blockage leads to increased pressure, impaired blood flow and inflammation of the appendix. In rare cases, traumatic injury to the abdomen and genetic factors also cause appendicitis. The obstruction, if not treated properly, and on time, would lead to a rupture in the appendix, creating major complications.
What Are the Symptoms of Appendicitis?
The classic symptoms of appendicitis include:
- Dull pain near the navel or the upper abdomen that becomes sharp as it moves to the lower right abdomen. This is usually the first sign.
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and/or vomiting soon after abdominal pain begins
- Abdominal swelling
- Fever of 99° F to 102° F
- Inability to pass gas
Almost half the time, other symptoms of appendicitis appear, including:
- Dull or sharp pain anywhere in the upper or lower abdomen, back, or rectum
- Painful urination
- Vomiting that precedes the abdominal pain
- Severe cramps
- Constipation or diarrhea with gas
Call your doctor if:
- You have pain that matches these symptoms. Do not eat, drink, or use any pain remedies, antacids, laxatives, or heating pads, which can cause an inflamed appendix to rupture.
- If you have any of the mentioned symptoms seek medical attention immediately since timely diagnosis and treatment is very important.
If you have any of the mentioned symptoms, seek medical attention immediately since timely diagnosis and treatment is very important.
How Is Appendicitis Diagnosed?
Diagnosing appendicitis can be tricky. Symptoms of appendicitis are frequently vague or extremely similar to other ailments, including gallbladder problems, bladder or urinary tract infection, Crohn’s disease, gastritis, intestinal infection, and ovary problems.
The following tests are usually used to make the diagnosis.
-Abdominal exam to detect inflammation
- Urine test to rule out a urinary tract infection
- Rectal exam
-Blood test to see if your body is fighting infection
- CT scans and/or ultrasound
How Is Appendicitis Treated?
Surgery to remove the appendix, which is called an appendectomy, is the standard treatment for appendicitis.
If appendicitis is even suspected, doctors tend to err on the side of safety and quickly remove the appendix to avoid its rupture. If the appendix has formed an abscess, you may have two procedures: one to drain the abscess of pus and fluid, and a later one to remove the appendix.
Antibiotics are given before an appendectomy to fight possible peritonitis. General anesthesia is usually given, and the appendix is removed through a 4-inch incision or by laparoscopy. If you have peritonitis, the abdomen is also irrigated and drained of pus.
Within 12 hours of surgery you may get up and move around. You can usually return to normal activities in 2 to 3 weeks. If surgery is done with a laparoscope (a thin telescope-like instrument for viewing inside the abdomen), the incision is smaller and recovery is faster.
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