What is appendicitis?
Appendicitis is inflammation or infection in your appendix. The appendix is a tube-like organ in your abdomen. It is attached to your large intestine. It has no known purpose. If the infection is not treated, your appendix can become blocked. When this happens, the appendix can burst. This can cause the infection to spread throughout your abdomen. Anyone can get appendicitis. It is most common in teenagers and young adults.
Symptoms of appendicitis
Symptoms can start quickly and get worse over time. These include:
- Pain in the right side of the abdomen
- Swelling and pressure in the abdomen
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Inability to pass gas
- Fever
Not everyone with appendicitis has all of these symptoms. In addition, other conditions can cause similar symptoms, including constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, bowel obstruction, ovarian cysts, and abdominal adhesions.
What causes appendicitis?
Several things can cause appendicitis. These include:
- A blocked opening inside the appendix
- Abdominal infection
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Stool, parasites, or a tumor inside your appendix
- Trauma or trauma to your abdomen
Sometimes, the cause is unknown.
How is appendicitis diagnosed?
Your doctor will do a physical exam. They will also ask you about your symptoms and medical history. Your doctor may order some tests. These include blood, urine and possibly a pregnancy test. Additional tests may include an X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.
Can appendicitis be prevented or avoided?
Appendicitis cannot be prevented. Research suggests there may be preventive benefits from maintaining a high-fiber diet. This will include fruits and vegetables.
Appendicitis treatment
A mild case of appendicitis can be cured with antibiotics alone. Most of the time, surgery is needed. This surgery is called an appendectomy. If you need surgery, your doctor will give you antibiotics before the procedure.
There are two types of surgery:
- Endoscopic. In this procedure, a surgeon makes several small incisions in your abdomen. They will insert a scope to look inside. The surgeon will use small instruments to remove the appendix through small incisions. This type has a short recovery time.
- evisceration. In this procedure, the surgeon removes your appendix through a single incision in the right lower abdomen. This requires more recovery time and is often required in more complicated cases of appendicitis.
Patients usually recover well after surgery. You will need to limit physical activity for the first 3 to 5 days after laparoscopic surgery. Limit it to 10 to 14 days after laparoscopic surgery.
If your appendix ruptures, surgery and recovery will be more complicated. Your surgeon will need to clear the infection from spreading inside your abdomen. If not treated quickly, the infection can lead to serious illness and death.
Living with appendicitis
Appendicitis pain is often progressive and intense. As a result, most people quickly seek medical attention.