Appendicitis: Everything You Need To Know About Appendicitis

What is Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is a disease condition in which appendix became inflamed, swollen and filled with pus.

In the United States, appendicitis is the most common cause of abdominal pain resulting in surgery. Over 5% of Americans experience it at some point in their lives.

If left untreated, appendicitis can cause your appendix to burst. This can cause bacteria to spill into your abdominal cavity, which can be serious and sometimes fatal.

Where Appendix is located?

This 3 1/2-inch-long tube of tissue extends from your large intestine on the lower right side of your body.

What Causes Appendicitis?

In the U.S., 1 in 20 people will get appendicitis at some point in their lives. Although it can strike at any age, appendicitis is rare in children younger than 2 years. It’s most likely to affect people between the ages of 10 and 30.

Appendicitis happens when the appendix gets blocked, often by poop, a foreign body (something inside you that isn’t supposed to be there), or cancer. Blockage may also result from infection, since the appendix can swell in response to any infection in the body.

Many things can potentially block your appendix, including:

a buildup of hardened stool

enlarged lymphoid follicles

intestinal worms

traumatic injury

tumors

When your appendix becomes blocked, bacteria can multiply inside it. This can lead to the formation of pus and swelling, which can cause painful pressure in your abdomen.

Other conditions can also cause abdominal pain.

Risk factors for appendicitis

Appendicitis can affect anyone. But some people may be more likely to develop this condition than others. For example, risk factors for appendicitis include:

Age: Appendicitis most often affects people between the ages of 15 and 30 years old.

Sex: Appendicitis is more common in males than females.

Family history: People who have a family history of appendicitis are at heightened risk of developing it.

Although more research is needed, low-fiber diets might also raise the risk of appendicitis.

What are the symptoms of Appendicitis?

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.

The site of your pain may vary, depending on your age and the position of your appendix. When you're pregnant, the pain may seem to come from your upper abdomen because your appendix is higher during pregnancy.

Types of Appendicitis

1. Acute Appendicitis

Acute appendicitis is a severe and sudden case of appendicitis. The symptoms tend to develop quickly over the course of one to two daysTrusted Source.

It requires immediate medical treatment. If left untreated, it can cause your appendix to rupture. This can be a serious and even fatal complication.

Acute appendicitis is more common than chronic appendicitis.

Chronic appendicitis

Chronic appendicitis is less common than acute appendicitis. In chronic cases of appendicitis, the symptoms may be relatively mild. They may disappear before reappearing again over a period of weeks, months, or even years.

This type of appendicitis can be challenging to diagnose. Sometimes, it’s not diagnosed until it develops into acute appendicitis.

Chronic appendicitis can be dangerous. 

Appendicitis in Pregnancy

Acute appendicitis is the most common non-obstetric emergency requiring surgery during pregnancy. It affects an estimated 0.04 -0.2% of pregnant women.

The symptoms of appendicitis may be mistaken for routine discomfort from pregnancy. Pregnancy may also cause your appendix to shift upward in your abdomen, which can affect the location of appendicitis-related pain. This can make it harder to diagnose.

Treatment options during pregnancy might include one or more of the following:

Surgery to remove your appendix

Needle drainage or surgery to drain an abscess

Antibiotics.

Delayed diagnosis and treatment may increase your risk of complications, including miscarriage.

Appendicitis in Children

An estimated 70,000 children experience appendicitis every year in the United States. Although it’s most common in people between the ages of 15 and 30 years old, it can develop at any age.

In children and teenagers, appendicitis often causes a stomachache near the navel. This pain may eventually become more severe and move to the lower right side of your child’s abdomen.

Your child may also:

lose their appetite

develop a fever

feel nauseous

vomit

If your child develops symptoms of appendicitis, contact the nearest health facility or your family doctor.

How Appendicitis is diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you many questions about your pain and other symptoms. Answering questions may be difficult if you are in pain, so your doctor will likely give you pain medication. If possible, bring someone with you that knows your health history and how your recent condition has progressed. You can write down your symptoms to help you remember. Be sure to bring a list of your allergies, other known conditions, and the medicines you take. 

Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms and medical history along with a physical exam. Your doctor will: 

Check your vital signs including blood pressure, and temperature.

Listen to your abdomen with a stethoscope. Appendicitis may reduce the normal sounds made by the colon. 

Touch or press certain places on your abdomen. The way it feels in different spots can be a sign of appendicitis.

Perform a rectal exam, in some cases. Appendicitis can cause rectal pain.

Perform a pelvic exam on women of childbearing age. Your doctor will examine the female reproductive organs to rule out conditions that mimic appendicitis. 

Lab Tests for Appendicitis 

After an exam, your doctor will want to do some lab tests. The results will show problems that typically occur with appendicitis. Your doctor will also use the test results to rule out other causes of your symptoms. This helps your doctor make the best treatment decisions for you.

Blood tests. 

A complete blood count (CBC) shows inflammation or infection in the body. A chemistry panel reveals dehydration and fluid and electrolyte imbalances.

Pregnancy test. 

Some problems of pregnancy, such as morning sickness or a miscarriage, can appear like appendicitis. Doctors also use this test to make sure they use medications that are safe during pregnancy. 

Imaging Tests for Appendicitis

Your doctor will likely order one or more of the following noninvasive imaging tests if you have signs of appendicitis. They help diagnose appendicitis or find other reasons for your symptoms.

Abdominal ultrasound can show inflammation or a burst appendix. The test involves pressing and moving a wand-like device gently over your belly. You may feel a little pressure on your belly during this test.

CT scan creates an X-ray-based image of your belly area. Your doctor can see much more detail with a CT scan compared to a regular X-ray or ultrasound. 

MRI also creates a detailed picture of your belly area. But unlike a CT scan, it does not involve X-rays. 

Making the Diagnosis

Conditions other than appendicitis can cause lower abdominal pain. Uterine fibroids, pancreatitis, and other types of intestinal inflammation can cause it. Your doctor will need to do a thorough evaluation to find the cause of your symptoms. Call your doctor right away if you have abdominal pain or symptoms that concern you. The sooner your doctor diagnoses and treats you, the sooner you will feel better.

What are the treatment options for Appendicitis?

Depending on your condition, your doctor’s recommended treatment plan for appendicitis may include one or more of the following:

Surgery to remove your appendix

Needle drainage or surgery to drain an abscess

Antibiotics

Pain relievers

Intravenous 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.

If you have an abscess that has not ruptured, your doctor may treat the abscess before you undergo surgery. To start, they will give you antibiotics. Then they will use a needle to drain the abscess of pus.

Surgery for appendicitis

To treat appendicitis, your doctor may use a type of surgery known as appendectomy. During this procedure, they will remove your appendix. If your appendix has burst, they will also clean out your abdominal cavity.

In some cases, your doctor may use laparoscopy to perform minimally invasive surgery. In other cases, they may have to use open surgery to remove your appendix.

Like any surgery, there are some risks associated with appendectomy. However, the risks of appendectomy are smaller than the risks of untreated appendicitis.

Appendicitis can cause serious complications. For example, it may cause a pocket of pus known as an abscess to form in your appendix. This abscess may leak pus and bacteria into your abdominal cavity.

Appendicitis can also lead to a ruptured appendix. If your appendix ruptures, it can spill fecal matter and bacteria into your abdominal cavity.

If bacteria spill into your abdominal cavity, it can cause the lining of your abdominal cavity to become infected and inflamed. This is known as peritonitis, and it can be very serious, even fatal.

Bacterial infections can also affect other organs in your abdomen. For example, bacteria from a ruptured abscess or appendix may enter your bladder or colon. It may also travel through your bloodstream to other parts of your body.

To prevent or manage these complications, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, surgery, or other treatments. In some cases, you might develop side effects or complications from treatment. However, the risks associated with antibiotics and surgery tend to be less serious than the potential complications of untreated appendicitis.

How to prevent Appendicitis?

There is no sure way to prevent appendicitis. But you might be able to lower your risk of developing it by eating a fiber-rich diet. Although more research is needed on the potential role of diet, appendicitis is less common in countries where people eat high-fiber diets.

Foods that are high in fiber include:

fruits

vegetables

lentils, split peas, beans, and other legumes

oatmeal, brown rice, whole wheat, and other whole grains

Your doctor may also encourage you to take a fiber supplement.

Add fiber by

Sprinkling oat bran or wheat germ over breakfast cereals, yogurt, and salads

Cooking or baking with whole-wheat flour whenever possible

Swapping white rice for brown rice

Adding kidney beans or other legumes to salads

Eating fresh fruit for dessert.

Home remedies for Appendicitis

Contact your doctor right away if you experience symptoms of appendicitis. It’s a serious condition that requires medical treatment. And it’s not safe to rely on home remedies to treat it.

If you undergo surgery to remove your appendix, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics and pain relievers to support your recovery. In addition to taking medications as prescribed, it may help to:

Get lots of rest

Drink plenty of fluids

Go for a gentle walk each day

Avoid strenuous activity and lifting heavy objects until your doctor says it’s safe to do so

Keep your surgical incision sites clean and dry

In some cases, your doctor might encourage you to adjust your diet. If you’re feeling nauseous after surgery, it might help to eat bland foods such as toast and plain rice. If you’re constipated, it might help to take a fiber supplement.

Sources:

www.webMD.com

www.mayoclinic.org

www.healthgrade.com

www.healthline.com