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Appendicitis Center - Aloha, OR

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Aloha, Oregon

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Appendicitis

What is the appendix?

The appendix is a closed-ended, narrow tube up to several inches in length that attaches to the cecum (the first part of the colon) like a worm. (The anatomical name for the appendix, vermiform appendix, means worm-like appendage.) The inner lining of the appendix produces a small amount of mucus that flows through the open center of the appendix and into the cecum. The wall of the appendix contains lymphatic tissue that is part of the immune system for making antibodies. Like the rest of the colon, the wall of the appendix also contains a layer of muscle, but the layer of muscle is poorly developed.

What is appendicitis and what causes appendicitis?

Appendicitis means inflammation of the appendix. It is thought that appendicitis begins when the opening from the appendix into the cecum becomes blocked. The blockage may be due to a build-up of thick mucus within the appendix or to stool that enters the appendix from the cecum. The mucus or stool hardens, becomes rock-like, and blocks the opening. This rock is called a fecalith (literally, a rock of stool). At other times, the lymphatic tissue in the appendix might swell and block the appendix. After the blockage occurs, bacteria which normally are found within the appendix begin to invade (infect) the wall of the appendix. The body responds to the invasion by mounting an attack on the bacteria, an attack called inflammation. An alternative theory for the cause of appendicitis is an initial rupture of the appendix followed by spread of bacteria outside of the appendix. The cause of such a rupture is unclear, but it may relate to changes that occur in the lymphatic tissue, for example, inflammation, that lines the wall of the appendix.)

If the inflammation and infection spread through the wall of the appendix, the appendix can rupture. After rupture, infection can spread throughout the abdomen; however, it ...

Recommended Reading Related to Appendicitis

Night Sweats »

Introduction to night sweats

Doctors in primary care fields of medicine often hear their patients complain of night sweats as they are common. Night sweats refer to any excess sweating occurring during the night. However, if your bedroom is unusually hot or you are using too many bedclothes, you may begin to sweat during sleep - and this is normal. In order to distinguish night sweats that arise from medical causes from those that occur because one's surroundings are too warm, doctors generally refer to true night sweats as severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to an overheated environment.

In one study of 2267 patients visiting a primary care physician, 41% reported experiencing night sweats during the previous month, so the perception of excessive sweating at night is fairly common. It is important to note that flushing (a warmth and redness of the face or trunk) may also be hard t...

Emergency Contact for Aloha

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Aloha Hospitals *

Providence St Vincent Medical Center
9205 SW Barnes Rd
Portland, OR 97225
(503)216-1234

Tuality Community Hospital
335 SE 8th Ave
Hillsboro, OR 97123
(503)681-1111

Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center
1015 NW 22nd Ave
Portland, OR 97210
(503)413-7711

Doernbecher Childrens Hospital at OHSU
700 SW Campus Dr
Portland, OR 97239
(503)494-8811

Oregon Health & Science University Hospital
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd
Portland, OR 97239
(503)494-8311

Portland VA Medical Center
3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd
Portland, OR 97239
(503)220-8262

Shriners Hospital for Children
3101 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd
Portland, OR 97239
(503)241-5090

Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center
19300 SW 65th Ave
Tualatin, OR 97062
(503)692-1212

Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital
2801 N Gantenbein Ave
Portland, OR 97227
(503)413-2200

Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
2801 N Gantenbein Ave
Portland, OR 97227
(503)413-2200

Oregon State Hospital Portland
1121 NE 2nd Ave
Portland, OR 97232
(503)731-8620

Tuality Forest Grove Hospital
1809 Maple St
Forest Grove, OR 97116
(503)357-2173

Providence Milwaukie Hospital
10150 SE 32nd Ave
Milwaukie, OR 97222
(503)513-8300

Providence Portland Medical Center
4805 NE Glisan St
Portland, OR 97213
(503)215-1111

Providence Newberg Hospital
1001 Providence Dr
Newberg, OR 97132
(503)537-1555

Southwest Washington Medical Center Memorial Campus
3400 Main St
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360)256-2000

Adventist Medical Center
10123 SE Market St
Portland, OR 97216
(503)257-2500

Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center
10180 SE Sunnyside Rd
Clackamas, OR 97015
(503)652-2880

Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center
1500 Division St
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503)656-1631

Southwest Washington Medical Center Mother Joseph Campus
400 NE Mother Joseph Pl
Vancouver, WA 98664
(360)256-2000

Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center
2211 NE 139th St
Vancouver, WA 98686
(360)487-1000

Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center
24800 SE Stark St
Gresham, OR 97030
(503)674-1122

Willamette Valley Medical Center
2700 Stratus Ave
Mcminnville, OR 97128
(503)472-6131

Silverton Hospital
342 Fairview St
Silverton, OR 97381
(503)873-1500

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