Appendicitis

Appendix is a small pouch attached to the intestines. Some times it becomes inflamed due to blockage leading to infection. If left untreated it can even burst inside. No clear cause has been found. You can neither prevent it nor predict it and is considered a medical emergency.

An acute pain is felt around the navel as the inflammation increases the pain becomes more severe. The pain then settles down in the lower right abdomen. The area is tender to touch and painful. The person may loose appetite; some may have constipation or diarrhea. The pain worsens when moving, coughing, taking deep breath or jumping. Most of the time early symptoms become difficult to separate from gastroenteritis. It often goes undiagnosed and leads to complications.

You must call a doctor if abdominal pain continues from more than four hours with vomiting and fever. Avoid eating, drinking, taking laxatives, antibiotics or pain killers as it may delay diagnosis. Physical examination and by asking question a doctor can diagnose this problem. These two signs also known as peritoneal signs suggest that some kind of inflammation is there in abdominal region. ACT scan of the abdomen and pelvis can further facilitate the diagnosis.

Surgery is the only treatment for appendicitis because antibiotics don’t work on this problem. The inflamed appendix is removed either incision made through the layers of abdominal wall or it is removed by the use of latroscopy. This technique is less painful and the recovery is speedier but the cost is higher than the normal surgery. The most serious complication is if the appendix burst due to delay in diagnosis which is more common in young children and old people. It can lead to peritonitis a dangerous infection causing organ failure and death.

Remember, problems with the appendix is a serious issue and should not be taken lightly.