Appendicitis Center - Philadelphia, PA
WebMD Physician DirectoryPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaA commercial, educational, and cultural center, the city was once the second-largest in the British Empire (after London), and the social and geographical center of the original 13 American colonies. Ben Franklin took a large role in Philadelphia's early rise to prominence. It was in this city that many of the ideas, and subsequent actions, gave birth to the American Revolution and American Independence, making Philadelphia a centerpiece of early American history. It was the most populous city of the young United States, although by the first census in 1790, New York City had overtaken it. Philadelphia served as one of the nation's many capitals during the Revolutionary War and after. Following the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, it was the temporary national capital from 1790 to 1800 while Washington, DC was under construction. Upcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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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 Philadelphia
Nearby Philadelphia Hospitals * Thomas Jefferson University Hospital  Hahnemann University Hospital  Magee Rehabilitation Hospital  Wills Eye Hospital  Pennsylvania Hospital  St Joseph Hospital  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia  Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania  Saint Agnes Medical Center  Girard Medical Center  Penn Presbyterian Medical Center  Methodist Hospital  Philadelphia VA Medical Center  Kensington Hospital  Cooper University Hospital  Virtua Health Camden  Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia  Temple University Hospital  Shriners Hospital for Children  St Christopher's Hospital for Children  Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center  Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment  CTCA at Eastern Regional Medical Center  Lankenau Hospital  Kindred Hospital Delaware County  Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital  Roxborough Memorial Hospital  Albert Einstein Medical Center  Moss Rehabilitation Hospital  Friends Hospital  Frankford Hospital Frankford  Delaware County Memorial Hospital  Fairmount Behavioral Health System  Kindred Hospital Philadelphia  Underwood-Memorial Hospital  Kennedy Health System Cherry Hill Campus  Moss Rehabilitation Hospital Elkins Park  Jeanes Hospital  Chestnut Hill Hospital  Montgomery Rehab Hospital of Chestnut Hill  Fox Chase Cancer Center  Bryn Mawr Hospital  Nazareth Hospital  Holy Redeemer Hospital & Medical Center  Taylor Hospital  Angela Jane Pavilion Rehabilitation Hospital  Springfield Hospital  Abington Memorial Hospital  Kennedy Health System Stratford Campus  Keystone Center  Camden County Health Services Center  Virtua Health Voorhees  Aria Health  Crozer-Chester Medical Center  Brooke Glen Behavioral Hospital  Marlton Rehabilitation Hospital  Virtua West Jersey Hospital Marlton  Weisman Children's Rehabilitation Hospital  Horsham Clinic  Community Hospital  Montgomery Hospital  Mercy Suburban Hospital  Norristown State Hospital  Kennedy Health System Washington Township Campus  Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County  Montgomery County Emergency Service  Abington Memorial Health Center Warminster Campus  Riddle Memorial Hospital  Hampton Behavioral Health Center  Virtua West Jersey Hospital Berlin  Valley Forge Medical Center & Hospital  Paoli Hospital  Devereux Beneto Children's Behavioral Health Center  Eagleville Hospital  Lower Bucks 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. |
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