Digestive Diseases: Appendicitis
Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a 3
1/2-inch-long tube of tissue that extends from the large intestine. The appendix contains specialized
tissue that can produce antibodies, but no one is absolutely certain what its
function is. One thing we do know: We can live without it, without apparent
consequences.
Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires prompt
surgery to remove
the appendix. Left untreated, an inflamed appendix will eventually burst, or
perforate, spilling infectious materials into the abdominal cavity. This can
lead to peritonitis, a serious
inflammation of the abdominal cavity's lining
(the peritoneum) that can be fatal unless it is treated quickly with strong
antibiotics.
Sometimes a pus-filled abscess (infection that
is walled off from the rest of the body) forms outside the inflamed appendix.
Scar tissue then "walls off" the appendix from the rest of the abdomen, preventing infection from spreading. An
abscessed appendix is a less urgent situation, but unfortunately, it can't be
identified without surgery. For this reason, all cases of appendicitis are
treated as emergencies requiring surgery.
In the U.S., 1 in 15 people will get appendicitis. Although it can strike at
any age, appendicitis is rare under age 2 and most common between ages 15 and
30.
Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes blocked, often by stool, a foreign body,
or cancer. Blockage may also occur from infection, since the
appendix swells in response to any infection in the body.
The classic symptoms of appendicitis include:
Dull pain near the navel or the upper abdomen that
becomes sharp as it moves to the lower right abdomen. This is usually the first
sign.
Almost half the time, other symptoms appear, including:
Call Your Doctor If:
You have pain that matches these symptoms. Do not eat,
drink, or use any pain remedies, antacids, laxatives, or heating pads, which can
cause an inflamed appendix to rupture. If you have any of the mentioned symptoms
seek medical attention immediately since timely diagnosis and treatment is very important. If
you have any of the mentioned symptoms, seek medical attention immediately since
timely diagnosis and treatment is very important.
Diagnosing appendicitis can be tricky. Appendicitis symptoms are frequently
vague or extremely similar to other ailments, including gallbladder problems,
bladder or urinary tract infection, Crohn's disease, gastritis, intestinal infection, and ovary
problems.
The following tests are usually used to make the diagnosis.
- Abdominal exam to detect inflammation
- Urine test to rule out a urinary tract infection
- Rectal exam
- Blood test to see if your body is fighting infection
- CT scans and/or ultrasound
- CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography) - CT Scan (Computerized Axial Tomography, CAT scan) is a procedure that assists in diagnosing tumors, fractures, bony structures, and infections in the organs and tissues of the body.
- Abdominal Pain - Learn about abdominal pain (pain in the stomach / abdomen) including causes, symptoms, how abdominal pain is diagnosed, and how abdominal pain is treated.
- Ultrasound - Learn an ultrasound procedure, and conditions and diseases it assists in diagnosing and screening like tumors, cysts, heart conditions and more.
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