Appendix is a close-ended small tube-like structure which is attached to the first part of the large intestine known as colon.  It is located in the lower right portion of the abdomen where small intestine attaches itself to the large intestine. An inflammation occurring to the appendix means appendicitis.


The appendix is a tiny, finger-shaped pouch. It is about 3. 5 inches long. It sticks to your colon and is located inside the lower part of the abdomen, towards the right side.


This is also the appendicitis location. This tiny structure is a vestigial organ, which means that it has no known function. However, it can still cause you serious problems. The question of “how do you get appendicitis” is still unanswered, considering that the very function of the appendix is unknown.

What is appendicitis? Appendicitis is a problem in which a person’s appendix gets filled with pus and becomes inflamed. This causes severe pain that can begin near the navel, or belly button, and then spread to the whole lower right side of the abdomen. This pain can take from 12 to 18 hours to spread, and its gets more and more intense, eventually becoming debilitating. In some cases, an abscess filled with pus forms on the outside walls of the appendix, and scar tissue then forms to separate this abscess from the rest of the appendix. This is not as urgent a situation as appendicitis, but it is impossible to diagnose this without surgery. For this reason, doctors normally treat all appendicitis cases as an emergency, requiring surgery. Appendicitis is mainly related to blockage inside the appendix which is known as lumen. This blockage creates problems like increased pressure, impaired blood flow and inflammation. There are other reasons to have appendicitis such as bacterial or viral infection. Such infection cause intensive swelling of lymph nodes, squeezing the appendix which creates a blockage.

Appendicitis in kids is most common. Appendicitis is mostly found in persons in between 10 and 30 years of age. However, it can affect anybody, but toddlers are rarely affected. In the USA, one out of every 5 people has appendicitis.

What causes appendicitis? The appendix is a mystery organ. Since its function isn’t clear, it is also difficult to say what may cause appendicitis. However, some of the known causes of appendicitis are

• Obstruction: Sometimes, a piece of waste food or a hardened piece of fecal matter (stool) may become trapped in the cavity, which runs throughout the appendix.

• Infection: Infection in another part of the body, especially a viral gastrointestinal infection, may cause appendicitis. Other inflammations may also cause it.

Some of the other reasons for having appendicitis can be due to an injury to the abdomen. This can also be part of the family history which can be passed on from one generation to another. If the pain and blockages has to be treated on time so as to avoid any rupture of gangrene which may be very problematic and could also lead to removal of your appendix. Both these reasons cause bacteria to rapidly invade the appendix, making it inflamed and filled with pus. If it is not treated immediately, it could rupture, causing serious damage.

Some of the signs and symptoms of appendicitis to watch out for are as follows:

• A dull pain near the belly button, which spreads to the lower right abdomen. This pain becomes sharper and more intense. This is usually a dead giveaway of appendicitis.

• Appetite loss also follows this dull pain.

• Sometimes, the pain is quickly followed by nausea and/or vomiting.

• The abdomen can also been seen to swell.

• A fever from 99 degrees F to about 102 degrees F.

• The feeling of not being able to pass gas.

These include the early signs of appendicitis. In about 50 percent of cases, other symptoms include

• A pain, either sharp or dull, near the lower abdomen, rectum, or back.
• Abdominal pain 
• Pain while passing urine
• Vomiting before the pain starts
• Intense cramps
• Constipation
• Diarrhea with gas
  

If you or your child has any of these symptoms, do not drink anything or eat anything. Also, do not use any painkillers, laxatives, antacids, or heating pads, which may cause the appendix to burst. You need to consult a doctor or go to a hospital immediately, since timely treatment is very important. Symptoms of appendicitis in teenagers are the same as those in kids or adults.

Some of the common symptoms which can be easily detectable are like pain in the abdomen which begins at the belly button then moves to the lower right area, no interest in eating, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, difficulty in passing gas, swelling in the abdomen, including fever with coughing or sneezing.

Appendicitis diagnosis. Diagnosing appendicitis can sometimes be difficult. The symptoms are often vague, or may be confused with other illness, such as urinary tract infects, gallbladder problems, Crohn’s disease, intestinal infections, gastritis, or ovarian problems. To confirm a diagnosis of appendicitis, your doctor will probably use the following tests:

• Detection of inflammation with an abdominal exam
• Urine test which can rule out a urinary tract infection
• Rectal exam
• A blood test can show if your body’s immune system is working well
• A CT Scan 
• An ultrasound
  

Appendicitis treatment. The treatment for appendicitis involves the surgical removal of the appendix. This procedure is known as an appendectomy, and is standard treatment. Since there is no known use of the appendix, doctors often remove the appendix even if appendicitis is suspected. In case an abscess is found on the appendix, then a second procedure may be used. This one will drain pus and fluid from the appendix, and then the appendix will be removed. The surgery is minimally invasive, and it can be done through a 4 inch incision in the abdomen by using a laparoscope. In case your doctor diagnoses peritonitis too, then the abdomen is also drained of fluid and pus. In case an appendectomy is carried there are no effects of appendicitis.

Appendicitis recovery. The recovery from an appendectomy is usually not very troublesome. Patients are normally discharged from a hospital with a day or two of surgery. Twelve hours after the surgery, you will be able to get out of bed and do simple things. Within a couple of weeks, your body will be almost fully recovered, and you will be able to get back to normal physical activity. In the case of laparoscopy, recovery is even faster as the incision made in the body is very small. However, in certain cases, complications may develop, and it is very important to call your doctor if you have any of these post-operative symptoms:

• Increase in abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Faintness, nausea or dizziness
• Pain around the incision
• Redness of the incision
• Fever
• Pus from the wound
• Blood in urine or vomit
• Appendicitis pain symptoms
  

How to prevent appendicitis? There is no way to predict or prevent appendicitis. It is merely a matter of chance. However, some studies have shown that the problem is not as common in people whose diets are high in fiber, especially fruit and vegetables.

Appendicitis and pregnancy. Appendicitis can be quite common in pregnant women. In the US between 1 in 1000 to 1 in 2000 expecting mothers will develop appendicitis. This can be potentially fatal for the mother and the baby. Doctors often choose to operate even on a suspicion, and often find healthy appendixes.

Women, infants, young children as well as elderly people suffering from this disease should take special care. Many people who got operated do not take much time to recover depending on the age, and how easy the operation went by to get a speedy recovery.