The appendix is a
part of the bowel that no longer has any
useful function in humans. It is about 3
inches long and consists of a very narrow
sack attached to the first part of the large
intestine called the caecum, found in the
lower right of the abdomen. Appendicitis
is a condition in which the appendix becomes
inflamed for reasons that are not fully
understood. It most commonly occurs in adolescents
and young adults, but can occur rarely at
any other age.
Symptoms
The symptoms of appendicitis
can vary, but typically they start with
a pain in the centre of the abdomen in the
region of the umbilicus (tummy button).
Over the next few hours the pain tends to
move to the lower right part of the abdomen
and become gradually worse and usually very
persistent. It is accompanied by nausea,
sometimes by vomiting and a disappearance
of any appetite, and usually with a slightly
raised temperature. As the pain becomes
worse, any movement can aggravate it, so
someone with appendicitis prefers to lie
still, and is extremely tender over the
area of the appendix.
It is important to
emphasise that, although this is the most
common way in which appendicitis shows itself,
it may not follow the above description
exactly. So if someone is complaining of
a persistent abdominal pain that shows no
signs of disappearing over several hours,
and especially if the pain is accompanied
by nausea, medical advice should be sought
as a matter of urgency.
Appendicitis can sometimes
be difficult to diagnose because of the
variable way in which it can present itself.
If the appendix perforates
(bursts), it releases infection into the
abdomen, leading to peritonitis. This causes
the individual to become more unwell with
a worsening and spreading of abdominal pain
and, if not treated swiftly, the situation
can be very serious.
Causes
Inflammation usually
starts when there is a blockage at the top
of the appendix for some reason, so that
germs and discharges can't get out into
the caecum. The blockage may be by a hard
lump of faeces, a plug of mucus or a swallowed
foreign body. The resulting swelling may
cause the blood supply to the appendix to
be cut off so that severe inflammation and
infection may occur. If the walls of the
appendix then break down, the appendix may
rupture (perforate) and release the infection
into the abdomen.
Treatment
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Appendicitis
