Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a finger-shaped pouch that projects from the colon on the lower right side of the abdomen. Appendicitis causes pain in the lower right abdomen.
However, in most people the pain begins around the navel and then moves. As inflammation worsens, appendicitis pain typically increases and eventually becomes severe.
Cause
Appendicitis happens when the appendix gets blocked, often by poop, a foreign body (something inside the body that isn’t supposed to be there), or cancer. Blockage may result from infection , since the appendix can swell in response to any infection in the body. , including:
- A buildup of hardened stool
- Enlarged lymphoid follicles
- Intestinal worms
- Traumatic injury
- Tumors
When the appendix becomes blocked, bacteria can multiply inside it. This can lead to the formation of pus and swelling, which can cause painful pressure in the abdomen.
Symptoms of Appendicitis
If you have appendicitis, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Pain in the upper abdomen or around belly button
- Pain in the lower right side of the abdomen
- Indigestion
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Abdominal swelling
- Inability to pass gas
- Low-grade fever
Appendicitis pain may start off as mild cramping. It often becomes more steady and severe over time. It may start in the upper abdomen or belly button area, before moving to the lower right quadrant of the abdomen.
Diagnosis
If the doctor suspects that the person might have appendicitis, they will perform a physical exam. They will check for tenderness in the lower part of the abdomen and swelling or rigidity.
Other tests they may perform includes:
- Urine tests – to rule out urinary tract infection or kidney stones as a potential cause of the symptoms
- Pregnancy test – ectopic pregnancy can be mistaken for appendicitis
- Pelvic exam – if the patient is female, the symptoms might be caused by pelvic inflammatory disease, an ovarian cyst, or another condition affecting the reproductive organs
- Abdominal imaging test – to check for inflammation of the appendix
- Chest imaging tests – pneumonia in the lower right lobe of the lungs can also cause symptoms similar to appendicitis
Treatments
Depending on the condition of the patient, the doctors recommended treatment plan for appendicitis may include one or more of the following:
- Surgery to remove the appendix
- Antibiotics
- Needle drainage or surgery to drain abscess
- Pain relievers
- IV fluids
- Liquid diet
In rare cases, appendicitis may get better without surgery. But in most cases, you will need surgery to remove your appendix. This is known as an appendectomy.
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