About the disease
Appendicitis is a condition, whereas the appendix, which is a thin tube located in the lower quadrant of the abdomen becomes inflamed and needs to be removed. According to an American site Healthline, this is an extremely common condition, affecting on average 5% of Americans during their lifetime. A person is more likely to have appendicitis between ages 10-30. It usually develops when too much bacteria start to multiply and accumulate in the appendix due to its obstruction. As a result, a pus starts to develop causing a person to experience acute pain. Overall, appendicits is considered to be more common among males than females, although the reason for that remains unknown. Obstruction of the appendix can develop as a result of an indigestion or any other stomach condition. It can develop suddenly without any underlying cause as well.
Appendicitis usually develops gradually with mild cramps in the lower abdomen. With time, pain increases to the point it becomes unbearable. A pain also becomes more and more targeted and a person can feel it in the exact location near the belly button in the lower quadrant of the abdomen, where appendix is located. Usually, if the pain continues to grow more and more intense for the period of more than 4 hours, this is a medical emergency. The most dangerous complication of an appendicitis is the burst of the appendix, when pus can get to other abdominal organs such as intestines. In rare cases appendicitis can be a fatal disease if not treated on time. If person experiences symptoms of this disease, which are described below, he/she shouldn`t take any laxatives or other drugs which can provoke the appendix to burst before it is removed.
Symptoms
- Pain near the belly button
- Feeling of a gas in the stomach
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea
- Abdominal swelling
- Diarrhea or, in rare cases, constipation
- Fever
Diagnosis
- During a general examination doctor will feel the abdomen of a patient to determine the exact source of pain. Usually pain is very targeted , so it is easy for a doctor to confirm the diagnosis.
- Complete blood count test and urinalysis are sometimes used to rule out the possibility of other infections, which can cause similar symptoms, if there are any doubts if a patient indeed has obstruction of the appendix.
- A pelvic exam is sometimes used for a woman to see if such symptoms are caused by other infections. Pregnant women who have appendicitis also need to undergo this exam to make sure that the baby is all right.
Treatment
- Appendectomy is a common surgery, used for resection of the appendix in order to prevent rupture or abscess. This surgery is usually performed under the anesthesia. A doctor may use a laparoscope to remove the appendix, which is a less invasive surgery, or use the open surgery if there is risk of peritonitis or abscess. You will need to stay in the hospital for several days to fully recover and make sure that your microflora is back to normal.
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