Appendicitis Center - Chicago, IL
WebMD Physician DirectoryChicago, IllinoisChicago is a city of world-class status and unsurpassed beauty. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in the heart of the Midwest, Chicago is home to world-championship sports teams, an internationally acclaimed symphony orchestra, renowned architecture, award-winning theater, and much more. Upcoming Local Events2012-06-03
2012-06-09
2012-07-03
2012-07-07
2012-07-12
2012-07-22
2012-08-24
2012-09-09
2012-09-15
2012-09-23
AppendicitisRead the Appendicitis article » 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 AppendicitisIntroduction to night sweatsDoctors 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... Other Related Appendicitis ArticlesEmergency Contact for Chicago
Nearby Chicago Hospitals * Northwestern Memorial Hospital  Prentice Women's Hospital  Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago  Rush University Medical Center  Johnston R Bowman Health Center  University of Illinois Medical Center  John H Stroger Jr Hospital of Cook County  Jesse Brown VA Medical Center  Mercy Hospital & Medical Center  Lincoln Park Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital Center  Children's Memorial Hospital  Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center  Resurrection Health Care Saint Elizabeth Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Saint Joseph Hospital  Norwegian-American Hospital  Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center  Saint Anthony Hospital  Sacred Heart Hospital  Advocate Bethany Hospital  Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital  Thorek Memorial Hospital  Provident Hospital of Cook County  Weiss Memorial Hospital  CINN Neurologic & Orthopedic Institute of Chicago  Chicago Lakeshore Hospital  Kindred Hospital Chicago North  Kindred Hospital Chicago Central  Methodist Hospital of Chicago  University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital  University of Chicago Hospital Bernard Mitchell  Loretto Hospital  Hartgrove Hospital  Swedish Covenant Hospital  Resurrection Health Care West Suburban Medical Center  St Bernard Hospital & Health Care Center  Kindred Hospital Chicago Lakeshore  Resurrection Health Care Our Lady of Resurrection Medical Center  Holy Cross Hospital  Shriners Hospital for Children Chicago  RUSH Oak Park Hospital  MacNeal Hospital  Jackson Park Hospital & Medical Center  La Rabida Children's Hospital  South Shore Hospital  Chicago-Read Mental Health Center  Resurrection Health Care Saint Francis Hospital  Riveredge Hospital  Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital  John J Madden Mental Health Center  Loyola University Medical Center  Gottlieb Memorial Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Westlake Hospital  Advocate Trinity Hospital  Little Company of Mary Hospital & Health Care Centers  Resurrection Health Care Resurrection Medical Center  NorthShore University HealthSystems  RUSH North Shore Medical Center  Roseland Community Hospital  Kindred Hospital Northlake  Advocate Christ Medical Center & Hope Children's Hospital  Adventist LaGrange Memorial Hospital  Elmhurst Memorial Hospital  Advocate Lutheran General Hospital  Adventist Hinsdale Hospital  MetroSouth Medical Center  RML Specialty Hospital  Palos Community Hospital  Glenbrook Hospital  Resurrection Health Care Holy Family Medical Center  Ingalls Memorial Hospital  Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers North Campus  Select Specialty Hospital Northwest Indiana  Regency Hospital of Northwest Indiana  St Catherine Hospital Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Appendicitis by Our Doctors
-
Related Diseases & Conditions
5 articles-
Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
-
Night Sweats
- Night sweats are severe hot flashes that occur at night and result in a drenching sweat. 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.
-
Abdominal Adhesions (Scar Tissue)
- Abdominal adhesions (scar tissue) bands of scar tissue that form between abdominal organs and tissues. Symptoms of abdominal adhesions are pelvic or abdominal pain. Abdominal adhesions on the intestines can cause bowel obstruction, which is a medical emergency. Treatment for abdominal adhesions is generally surgery to cut the adhesions away from the internal tissues and organs. There is no way to prevent abdominal adhesions.
-
Shock (Medical)
- Medical shock is a life-threatening medical condition. There are several types of medical shock, septic shock, anaphylactic shock, cardiogenic shock, hypovolemic shock, and neurogenic shock. Causes of shock include heart attack, heart failure, heavy bleeding (internal and external), infection, anaphylaxis, spinal cord injury, severe burns, chronic vomiting or diarrhea. Low blood pressure is the key sign of sock. Treatment is dependant upon the type of shock.
-
The Digestive System
- Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
-
Abdominal Pain
-
Medications
0 articles -
Procedures & Tests
7 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
6 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
10 articles -
Health News
7 articles -
Health Features
0 articles
