what is appendicitis : appendicitis disease || Health Fettle ||

What is Appendicitis : Appendicitis Disease

What Is Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, which is a small portion of the cecum (large intestine) that is located in the lower right section of the abdomen. Although the appendix does not seem to have any function in the body, it can still become diseased; if left untreated, an inflamed appendix can burst, causing infection or even death. About 1 in 500 people develop appendicitis each year.

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What Causes Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is usually caused by an infection in the appendix, usually with bacteria from the intestinal tract. The infection can be caused by an obstruction in the appendix (due to contents moving through the intestinal tract, such as a piece of hardened stool), or by a constricting band of tissue. When infected, the appendix becomes swollen, inflamed, and filled with pus.

What are the Symptoms of Appendicitis?

Symptoms of appendicitis include:

• Abdominal bloating
• Pain in the right side of the abdomen. The pain usually begins near the navel and moves down and to the right. The pain worsens when moving, taking deep breaths, coughing, sneezing, and being touched in the area around or where the appendix is located.
• Nausea and vomiting
• Low fever that begins after other symptoms
• Tenderness in the lower right abdomen
• Increased white blood cell count
• Abdominal swelling (late stages)
• Diarrhea (occasionally)
• Constipation and inability to pass gas (occasionally)

Not everyone has all the symptoms listed above. It is important that persons who have symptoms of appendicitis not take laxatives or enemas to relieve constipation, because these medicines could cause the appendix to burst. Pain medicine could also mask symptoms that the doctor needs to know about in order to make a correct diagnosis.

How is Appendicitis Diagnosed?

Obtaining a medical history and physical exam are the most important techniques used for Appendicitis diagnosis. Other techniques include:

• White blood cell count: This blood test will reveal any elevation in your white blood cell count, which is a common sign of infection.
• Urinalysis: This is a microscopic examination of the urine that detects red blood cells, white blood cells, and bacteria in the urine. This can help exclude other infections that are commonly confused with appendicitis, such as urinary tract infections or kidney stones.
• Abdominal X-Ray: This procedure can help detect a blockage in the appendix, which is a common cause of appendicitis (especially helpful for diagnosing appendicitis in children).
• Ultrasound: This is a painless procedure that uses sound waves to help identify structures. If the ultrasound reveals that the appendix is enlarged, appendicitis is usually the resulting diagnosis. An ultrasound can also help to rule out ovarian cysts, whose symptoms often mimic those of appendicitis.
• Barium Enema: A barium enema is an x-ray test in which barium is inserted into the colon from the anus. This test can, at times, show the effects of appendicitis on surrounding abdominal structures and can rule out other intestinal problems that have the same symptoms as appendicitis.
• CT Scan: A CT scan can show signs of appendicitis, but is most useful in diagnosing complications of appendicitis, such as an abscess.
• Laparoscopy: This is a surgical technique in which a small fiber-optic camera is inserted into the abdomen, thus allowing the physician to directly view the appendix. Laparoscopy is performed using a general anesthetic, and if the appendix is inflamed, it may be removed laparoscopically during the same anesthetic.

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How is Appendicitis treated?

If appendicitis is diagnosed or strongly suspected, the best appendicitis treatment is surgical removal of the appendix (appendectomy), which is performed under general anesthetic. The surgeon will make a small incision in the lower part of the abdomen on the right side, through which the appendix is removed. In some instances, laparoscopic removal of the appendix is also a treatment option for appendicitis. Both surgery and laparoscopic removal are excellent treatment options, and the choice of which procedure to use will depend on the surgeon.

    If the appendix is not ruptured at the time of surgery, the patient is generally allowed to leave the hospital in one to two days. If the appendix is ruptured, the patient may stay in the hospital four to seven days depending on the severity of the perforation. Intravenous antibiotics are given while in the hospital to help prevent further infection and abscesses.

    Occasionally, a person may not see a doctor until appendicitis has been present for many days or even weeks, in which case an abscess has usually formed. If the abscess is small, it may be treated with antibiotics; however, usually, the abscess requires drainage, typically done with the aid of ultrasound or a CT scan. Since it is generally not safe to remove the appendix when an abscess is present, the appendix is removed several weeks to months after the abscess has healed, in order to prevent further attacks of appendicitis.