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Appendicitis occurs when there is an inflammation or an infection of the appendix. The appendix is the finger-shaped pouch that extended from the large intestines at the lower right side of the abdomen. Patient will need emergency medical attention if it becomes infected or inflamed.
An inflamed appendix causes pain at the lower right side of the abdomen, as inflammation worsens, the pain progress and eventually becomes severe. The appendix might rupture, resulting in a sudden, severe pain and bacteria will enter the abdominal cavity through a ruptured appendix.
The abdominal cavity, which is located centrally of your body and contains your liver, stomach, and intestines, will get I,nfected if an inflamed appendix does not get treated in time. This may result in peritonitis, a severe inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum). It may be fatal if not treated right away with potent antibiotics and surgery to remove the pus.
Although appendicitis can develop at any age, it most frequently affects adults in their teens and early 20s as well as the adolescent years in children. However, kids in elementary school can also get appendicitis.
Symptoms
The main symptom of appendicitis is severe abdominal pain, especially in the lower right side of the abdomen where the appendix is located. Symptoms frequently start off unexpectedly and worsen.
Appendicitis signs and symptoms include:
- Sudden pain that radiates to the lower right side of the abdomen.
- Pain or tenderness in the abdomen that worsens when coughing, sneezing, breathing in, or moving.
- Low-grade fever
- Swollen or bloated abdomen
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Flatulence
Your age and the position of the appendix might influence the location of the pain. Due to the elevated position of your appendix during pregnancy, the discomfort may appear to originate in your upper abdomen.
It is recommended to seek medical help if the child or someone exhibits alarming signs and symptoms of appendicitis.
Causes
It’s unclear what causes appendicitis to develop. The appendix becomes infected or becomes irritated, resulting in swelling and pain. The bacteria grow quickly filling the appendix with pus. The appendix may burst if it is not quickly treated.
Diagnosis
Healthcare provider will conduct a physical examination as well as ask about the signs and symptoms and do an abdominal examination to help determine appendicitis. Appendicitis is diagnosed using many procedures and tests, including:
- Physical examination: On the painful location, where a little pressure will be used. Appendicitis pain frequently gets worse when the pressure is suddenly removed, indicating that the nearby peritoneum is irritated. During this procedure, the healthcare provider will also evaluate for any abdominal tightness and tendency of the abdominal muscles to become rigid in reaction to pressure placed on the inflamed appendix.
- Imaging tests: Such as computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), abdominal ultrasound, or an x-ray will assist the healthcare provider to properly diagnose appendicitis or identify any other causes of the pain.
- Blood test: To evaluate for an infection by looking for a high white blood cell count.
- Urine test: To rule out urinary tract infection (UTI) or kidney stones that might cause similar abdominal pain.
Treatment
The most common treatment for appendicitis is surgical removal of the inflamed appendix.
- Appendectomy: is the standard treatment that surgically removes the appendix, which stops the appendix from rupturing if it has not yet ruptured, as well as preventing the infection from spreading. A single abdominal incision of between 2 and 4 inches (5 and 10 cm) long can be used to perform an appendectomy as an open procedure (laparotomy). Alternatively, a few tiny abdominal incisions might be used to do the procedure (laparoscopic appendectomy). Surgeon will insert a video camera and surgical tools into the abdomen to remove appendix during laparoscopic surgery.
However, not everyone is a suitable for laparoscopic surgery. They could require an open appendectomy, which enables the surgeon to clean the entire abdominal cavity, especially if the appendix has ruptured, the infection has moved outside of it, or if the patient have an abscess.
- Drainage of abscess: For the ruptured appendix that developed abscess and needed to be drained before the appendectomy. A tube will be inserted through the skin and into the abscess. After the infection has been controlled for a few weeks, an appendectomy can be done.
