Appendicitis / General Surgeries

Appendicitis – Understanding The Disease

Appendicitis – Understanding The Disease
by admin
19th April 2022
4 minutes read

Appendix and Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a disease of the appendix. The appendix refers to a finger-sized tube. Its location is where the large intestine connects with the small intestine. Appendix is a body part with no known function and is present in the lower right side of your abdomen.

Coming to appendicitis meaning, it is a disease of the vestigial organ appendix, where the organ becomes inflamed or infected. This calls for an immediate need for treatment. Treatment can be in the form of open or laparoscopic appendectomy.

Is Appendicitis Dangerous?

It starts with pain, where pain may come and go time and again. However, the appendix may even rupture, causing severe amount of pain suddenly. A ruptured appendix is dangerous as it carries the potential of spreading bacteria through your abdominal cavity. This spread can further cause a condition known as peritonitis. Peritonitis is serious and can be fatal too.

Appendix – Normal versus Inflamed

Who is more prone to getting appendicitis?

It is common in individuals in their teens as well as 20s. It also occurs in children during their tweens (age 10-12 years). While this condition has been more common in males, appendicitis has no age-restriction for its occurrence.

Complications of Appendicitis

Following are some of the resulting conditions of an untreated appendicitis:

  • Abscess: Left untreated, it can develop into an appendicular abscess. An abscess is a pocket of pus with the potential of causing infection.
  • Abdominal infection: Once peritonitis develops, it can be life-threatening. This is because the infection may spread throughout your abdomen, creating the need for an abdominal surgery or laparotomy. Laparotomy removes the ruptured appendix and also treats the infection.
  • Sepsis: Sepsis is another serious condition resulting from a ruptured appendix. Bacteria from the ruptured appendix can enter the bloodstream, causing this condition and leading to widespread inflammation of several organs. It can even be fatal.

How to Prevent Appendicitis?

Appendicitis has no proven way for its prevention. However, consuming a high-fiber diet, along with lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, may prove helpful. This also answers, ‘how to check for appendicitis at home’ or ‘what food can cause appendicitis.’

Some Facts

  • The appendix is a 3- to 6-inch-long structure, like a pouch.
  • It is a part of the large intestine.
  • Appendicitis generally happens due to trapped mucus/stool/foreign body inside the appendix, blocking its opening.
  • The organ can burst/rupture and spill all its contents into the belly.
  • Its hallmark symptom is pain in the lower right belly.
  • The pain may start near the bellybutton, further spreading to the lower right side and then to the whole belly.
  • Once your appendix is inflamed, it can rupture within the next 48-72 hours of the starting of the first symptoms.
  • Talking about the function of the vestigial organ appendix, it is not very clear even today. It may help fight infection. However, its removal with appendectomy may not affect the body as other organs take up its functions.

Outlook

It is highly necessary to reach out to a doctor when experiencing pain in the right side of the abdomen. And it’s equally important to go with the prescribed treatment (can be surgery) in order to prevent above-mentioned complications for a healthy life. Appendix is not known to have any purpose. And for that reason, the patient notices nothing significant after the surgery, except that the pain and complications are gone.

We at Medfin, the Surgery expert team, offer you access to latest and advanced treatment for appendicitis at most affordable costs. Our Personal Medfin assistants answer all your concerns related to surgery and ensure that your needs are met in your entire medical journey. 

To consult an expert Medfin surgeon near you, please call us on 7026200200. You can also WhatsApp us on 7406557599 (click here to initiate a whatsapp chat).

Useful Links:

Watch what our doctor has to say on Appendicitis and its Management.

Know more on Appendicitis

What is Laparoscopic Appendectomy?

Open Appendicectomy – Appendix Removal

Appendicular Abscess Drainage