Appendicitis

Appendicitis usually presents as an emergency, requiring immediate treatment. Most often, hospitalization and surgery are required to remove the appendix. What is appendicitis and are there any problems associated with removing the organ? Here are the answers.

What is Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. This is a vestigial organ (an organ without any function), attached to the colon, in the lower right portion of the abdomen. It could be several inches long.

What are the causes of Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is usually due to an infection caused by a blockage in the appendix, usually by a piece of hardened fecal matter. Sometimes there may be an inflammation of the lymph tissue of the appendix, which may cause the obstruction. Most often the specific reason for the inflammation may not be known. External pressure or a tumor of the surrounding organs could also cause an inflammation.

What is the most common age when a person could suffer from Appendicitis?

While appendicitis can occur in people of any age group, the most commonly affected are those in the age group of 10-20 years

What are the symptoms of Appendicitis?

Vague pain in the umbilical area or the upper abdomen is followed by severe pain, localized to the right and lower quadrant of the abdomen. Flexing the right leg may at times relieve the pain. Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and high fever (up to 38°), are the other common symptoms. These are common to other problems such as urinary tract infection, gastroenteritis and kidney stones. Women could experience these symptoms if they have pelvic infections or an ovarian cyst. It is very important to consult the physician for a correct diagnosis.

Why is it very important to report the symptoms to a physician immediately?

Appendicitis, if left untreated, can quickly progress to perforation. This can cause diffuse peritonitis (inflammation of the abdomen), obstruction of the bowel, or abscess formation and could be fatal. Such conditions need emergency surgery. A leak from the appendix could cause a localized inflammation.

How will the doctor confirm the diagnosis?

The clinical history and physical examination will help the doctor come to a diagnosis. But the most common sign the doctor will look for in appendicitis, is 'Rebound Tenderness.' This means that when the doctor presses the abdomen and quickly releases the pressure, the pain is more than the pain experienced when the doctor applies the pressure. Blood tests may show increased WBC count, indicating that an inflammation and infection are in progress. X-ray, Ultra-sound, Urine analysis and even a CT-Scan may be requested, both to help in the diagnosis and to rule out other problems.

What is the treatment for appendicitis?

Though suspected appendicitis may be treated with antibiotics initially, surgery is the treatment of choice, as the situation is potentially dangerous. Appendectomy involves the removal of the appendix through a small incision in the lower right part of the abdomen. Laproscopy, where a small fiber-optic camera is inserted into the abdomen, is also being used to remove the appendix. The role of the appendix in humans is not known. The removal of this organ is not known to have any harmful effects in the long term. If the appendix has been removed before complications have set in, then the patient may be discharged in a couple of days. But if there has been a perforation or other complications, then the patient may have to stay in the hospital for a longer time.