Key Symptoms and Treatments of Appendicitis Explained
Our human body is quite mysterious. Many things are yet to be revealed. There are many vestigial organs that functioned eons ago but now are not active right now. These organs are slowly getting eradicated with evolution. One such vestigial organ is the appendix. You can find it on the bulge of the large intestine where the small intestine ends. Due to inflammation, this organ inflates and pains. This disease is called appendicitis. In this section, we will define appendicitis and its symptoms. We will also study the reasons for the development of this disease.
What is Appendicitis?
The term ‘appendicitis’ is a biological term that refers to a disease where the appendix gets inflamed. It is a sac-like organ that is present right beside the junction of the large and small intestine in the digestive system of the human body. This organ has currently no role to play in the contemporary digestive system of human beings.
The inflammation causes the inflation of this organ leading to pain, discomfort, and infection when not treated on time. This is a very common case that generally occurs among patients of age ranging from 10 to 30 years. In fact, it is also very common among men. More than 250,000 cases are witnessed in the USA alone. Now that we have defined appendicitis, let us move on to find its cause.
Reasons for the Formation of Appendicitis
There are many causes behind the formation of appendicitis. Here is a list that includes the possible reasons behind the development of this disease in the human digestive system.
It can happen due to the abdominal trauma received from shock, impact, or any injury. The direct impact in the lower abdomen where this organ lies can cause local inflammation in this vestigial organ leading to pain.
Inflammatory bowel disease is one of the prime reasons for developing appendicitis. It is caused due to prolonged occurrence of inflammation in this region. If this disease is localized near the small and large intestine connection, it can cause irritation in this organ resulting in appendicitis.
In most cases, it has been found that improper bowel movement causes obstruction near the opening of the appendix. This results in prolonged obstruction and internal mucus. The mucus accumulates inside this sac and eventually causes inflation. The inflation, on the other hand, puts stress on the local blood circulation thus resisting the tissues from getting nutrition and oxygen.
This prolonged obstruction results in inflammation of the tissues. If it is ignored, it can cause necrosis or the unnatural death of the tissues and it can spread very fast in the digestive tract. Appendicitis is the primary stage of necrosis in this organ.
Gastrointestinal infection is one of the prime reasons for appendicitis. Due to prolonged gastrointestinal infection, this organ also gets affected resulting in inflammation. The infection-causing agents can transport and settle down in this organ causing infection. Once the infection is spread in this organ, it will cause pain, discomfort, and inflation.
Tissue enlargement is also a concern that causes obstruction to the passage of the internal mucosal fluid to the large intestine. This enlargement of tissues cannot be detected unless it has reached a considerable level and causing pain.
The lumen of the appendix can also get clogged due to biological reasons. This obstruction reduces the immunity power in this area resulting in the increase of parasitic development.
Symptoms of Appendicitis
Let us define appendicitis symptoms and find out how a patient can identify this disease and seek medical attention.
The patient will suffer from fever due to inflammation. It can also happen due to the spreading of infection in the tissues of this organ.
Vomiting sensation is quite common. In fact, the patients often vomit profusely. This is a very common symptom. Patients generally misunderstand it with digestive problems. All the other symptoms should be considered too.
Appendicitis will cause pain in the lower abdominal region close to the navel. The abdomen will also swell to some extent. This swelling will not reside until proper medical action is taken.
The patient will also feel uncomfortable and pain while passing gas or during flatulence.
Treatment of Appendicitis
Over the years, the advancement in medical science has made it easier to design an appendicitis treatment easily. An invasive procedure is undertaken in a laparoscopic method where only three small incisions are done to introduce a camera and operational utilities. The inflamed appendix is then removed precisely once the surgeons confirm the inflammation and infection level.
If it is nominal and goes almost undetected in the non-invasive tests, doctors prescribe antibiotics and other medicines to recede the symptoms. The antibiotic course helps in reducing the bacterial growth in this organ leading to the quick healing of the inflammation.
The major problem occurs when the appendix is perforated, swollen, and has burst open. It can cause immense complications in the patients. In some severe cases, the chronic infection crosses the appendix wall and reaches the peritoneal wall causing peritonitis. When it goes untreated, it can cause perforation in the peritoneal membrane that holds every organ inside our abdomen. It needs intensive care in the well-equipped medical units specializing in handling such cases.
FAQs on What Is Appendicitis?
1. What exactly is appendicitis and what causes it?
Appendicitis is the inflammation and swelling of the appendix, a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine. It is most commonly caused by a blockage inside the appendix. This blockage can be due to hardened stool, foreign objects, or infection, which traps bacteria and leads to swelling, pus formation, and pain.
2. What are the most common symptoms of appendicitis?
The classic symptom is a sudden pain that often begins around the navel and then moves to the lower right abdomen. Other common signs include:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- A low-grade fever that may worsen
- Abdominal swelling or bloating
- Difficulty passing gas
3. How do doctors typically diagnose appendicitis?
Doctors diagnose appendicitis through a combination of methods. This usually starts with a physical exam to check for tenderness in the abdomen. They may also use:
- Blood tests to look for signs of infection, such as a high white blood cell count.
- Urine tests to rule out other conditions like a urinary tract infection.
- Imaging tests, such as a CT scan or an ultrasound, to get a clear view of the appendix and confirm inflammation.
4. What is the standard treatment for appendicitis?
The most common and effective treatment for appendicitis is a surgical procedure to remove the appendix, known as an appendectomy. In some very mild cases, doctors might start with a course of antibiotics, but surgery is often necessary to prevent the appendix from bursting.
5. Why is the appendix often called a vestigial organ?
The appendix is considered a vestigial organ because it has lost its primary original function over the course of human evolution. While some theories suggest it may play a minor role in the immune system, humans can live perfectly healthy lives without it. Its absence causes no known health problems, which is why it's considered a remnant from our evolutionary past.
6. Can appendicitis be prevented through diet or lifestyle choices?
There is no guaranteed way to prevent appendicitis. However, some research suggests that a high-fibre diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, may lower the risk. The idea is that fibre helps prevent the formation of hardened stool, which is a common cause of blockage in the appendix.
7. What makes appendicitis a medical emergency?
Appendicitis is considered a medical emergency because if left untreated, the inflamed appendix can rupture or burst. A ruptured appendix spills infectious bacteria into the abdominal cavity, leading to a painful and life-threatening condition called peritonitis. This requires immediate surgery to clean the infection and prevent it from spreading throughout the body.
