What is appendicitis?
Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix.
Appendicitis causes pain in your lower right abdomen. As inflammation worsens, appendicitis pain typically increases and eventually becomes severe.
As we read in the article, in most clinical cases patients complain of pain around the umbilicus.
Although anyone can develop appendicitis, most often it occurs in people between the ages of 10 and 30.
Standard treatment is surgical removal of the appendix.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of appendicitis may include:
- Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen
- Sudden pain that begins around your navel and often shifts to your lower right abdomen
- Pain that worsens if you cough, walk or make other jarring movements
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Low-grade fever that may worsen as the illness progresses
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Abdominal bloating
- Flatulence
Causes
A blockage in the lining of the appendix that results in infection is the likely cause of appendicitis. The bacteria multiply rapidly, causing the appendix to become inflamed, swollen and filled with pus. If not treated promptly, the appendix can rupture.
Complications
Appendicitis can cause serious complications. A ruptured appendix. A rupture spreads infection throughout your abdomen (peritonitis). Possibly life-threatening, this condition requires immediate surgery to remove the appendix and clean your abdominal cavity.
If your appendix bursts, you may develop a pocket of infection (abscess).
Diagnosis
To help diagnose appendicitis, your doctor will likely take a history of your signs and symptoms and examine your abdomen.
- Blood test.
- Urine test.
- Abdominal X-ray.
- Your doctor may also recommend an abdominal ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/appendicitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20369543
