The appendix is a small worm-shaped tube attached to the end of the large intestine in your body. The appendix sits on the lower right side of your abdomen, where the large and small intestines connect. The function of the appendix is quite unclear; however, it has a little significant role to play in your body, at times, it is removed to avoid the risk of developing complications due to infection.
Appendicitis is a condition where your appendix is inflamed, infected or blocked due to any infection. Appendicitis is often characterised by pain (that can range from mild to severe) in your lower right abdomen.
In the chronic conditions of the appendix, the infection gets multiplied inside your appendix. Leading to the formation of pus and swelling. In the worst condition, it may burst (rupture), causing sudden and severe pain in your lower right abdomen. The rupture can spread the infection throughout the body. That's why appendicitis is treated as a medical emergency, and immediate surgery is required.
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In the condition of appendicitis, you may feel pain in the right lower side of your abdomen. It starts in your stomach and spreads as a lower abdominal pain in a short span of time.
The following are the symptoms of the appendix:
The pain and symptoms may vary, depending on the age and the severity of your appendicitis.
Appendicitis is caused when your appendix is blocked or infected, causing inflammation of your appendix. All age groups can be affected by appendicitis. However, the acute cause of appendicitis is quite unclear. The possible causes are as follows:
Age
Appendicitis is common in people aged between 10 and 30 years, but it can occur at any age.
Family history
A retrospective study states that a family history of appendicitis increases the likelihood of diagnosing the disease in children.
Gender
Males are more prone to Appendicitis than females, especially in children.
Other diseases
Chronic inflammatory diseases like Ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease increase the risk of appendicitis.
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Consult a doctor if you find yourself with appendicitis symptoms or suffer from abdomen pain more often. Your doctor will ask for your signs and symptoms.
On physical examination, your doctor will gently apply pressure on the surface of your abdomen to check if your appendix is inflamed.
A blood test gives access to view the count of your white blood cells, the immune system. The count of white blood cells can indicate the infection.
Urine test to check if your abdomen pain is caused by urinary tract infection or kidney stones.
An imagery test (CT, MRI or X-ray), allows you to see the inflammation of your appendix or find out the other cause of your abdomen pain.
Pelvic examination is performed in women to check for the abnormality and severity of your pain and appendicitis.
Appendicitis is common in children. Then symptoms get different in young children. They experience abdominal pain, vomiting, bloated stomach and poor appetite. Your doctor may use an imagery test to diagnose appendicitis in your children.
Appendicitis is treated with antibiotics or medications. If the infection is mild, this happens only in rare conditions. In most of the conditions, your doctor will remove your appendix through surgery.
The major complication is when your appendicitis rupture. The rupture spreads infection all over your abdominal cavity, causing severe illness, or it may even lead to the cause of death.
Other complications are as follows:
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Abdominal pain or discomfort is a symptom of many illnesses ranging from minor stomach disease to something more severe like appendicitis.
It’s crucial to get medical consultation when stomach pain occurs with no proper aetiology, as it may result in a life-threatening condition.
Appendicitis is characterised by excruciating pain in the lower-right abdomen. It may start in the upper abdomen and move downward. If one encounters this kind of pain, visiting a doctor as soon as possible is recommended.
Sometimes confused, acute and chronic appendicitis refer to different inflammation forms affecting the appendix (a small pouch-like organ located at the junction of large and small intestines).
Acute appendicitis is a medical emergency that happens due to sudden inflammation of a ruptured appendix and requires immediate attention. Chronic appendicitis is a less common condition characterized by persistent or recurrent appendiceal inflammation symptoms.
The surgical removal of the appendix (located in the right lower side of the abdomen) is called appendectomy. It is divided into 2 types:
The appendix can be caused by several factors, such as swelling, infection, blockage, trauma, and inflammation. Certain food choices and dietary habits are also linked with the increased risk of developing this condition, such as:
There are different tests that you can try at home; however, proper diagnosis and a physical examination are required to understand the exact cause of abdominal pain.
The appendix is a small, finger-shaped intestinal tissue pouch located between the cecum and colon. When appendix sticks out from the colon on the lower right side of the belly, appendicitis forms and that causes pain in the lower right abdomen.
We can live a healthy life without an appendix. As it serves a minimal function, the absence of an appendix does not affect your health in any way. It is advisable to consult a doctor and go as per your doctor's advice. However, by practising healthy diet and food rich in fibre you can reduce the risk of getting appendicitis.
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