Throughout our lives, we must be prepared for health problems and incidents that come without warning. When we talk about unexpected health issues, the well-known appendicitis quickly comes to mind. It is a very common issue that causes concern for many people.

What is Appendicitis?

First, to understand what appendicitis is, we need to know exactly what the appendix is. It is a small organ located in the lower right side of the abdomen, at the beginning of the large intestine, with a blind end, and many people do not know what its function is.

The truth is that for a long time the appendix was considered an organ without any function for our body, seen only as a vestige of evolution. However, recent studies have proven that the appendix can help our immune system by constantly producing mucus, which mixes with our feces.

Not everything about this organ is known yet, and research may reveal more of its functions in the future. Appendicitis is nothing more than the inflammation of this organ, which causes various symptoms, the most common being intense pain on the right side of the abdomen.

Symptoms of Appendicitis

But in addition to this symptom, other symptoms also accompany appendicitis, such as nausea, intense feeling of indigestion, queasiness, fever, diarrhea, chills, and even vomiting. When appendicitis is diagnosed in someone, they need to undergo a surgical procedure to remove the appendix as soon as possible to avoid worse consequences.

What Causes Appendicitis?

This condition can occur for several reasons, the most common being stool entering the appendix, since it is an organ very close to the large intestine. Besides that, other very common causes are:

  • Gallstones.
  • Accumulation of gas inside the appendix.
  • Intestinal parasites, such as worms.
  • Pressure from lymph nodes due to some infection.

Because the appendix is a very small organ with a very specific shape, its functions are often blocked by the inflammation of other organs, causing the mucus produced in the appendix to become trapped, leading to various infections and, consequently, all the symptoms we mentioned above.

How to Identify Appendicitis?

Only a medical specialist can confirm whether or not a person is actually suffering from appendicitis. When someone displays the symptoms of the disease, they usually seek medical help, especially because the abdominal pain tends to be very strong and gets worse over time.

The doctor evaluates through observation and abdominal palpation, and may also request some tests such as ultrasound or blood count, for example. After all these analyses have been done, the doctor will refer the patient for surgery so the appendix can be removed.

Appendicitis Surgery

The surgery to remove the appendix, known as an appendectomy, is considered a simple procedure and generally does not present many risks, although, like any surgery, there can be complications for various reasons, such as infection and bleeding, for example.

There is not only one way to perform this surgery. Besides the traditional technique, there is also video-laparoscopic surgery, which is much less invasive, results in much less post-operative pain, and provides a faster recovery for the patient.

Even with advances in technology, in many cases it is still necessary for the surgery to remove the appendix to be performed in the traditional open manner; it is up to the doctor to decide which is the best approach for each case.

What Complications Can Appendicitis Bring?

The main complication that the disease can lead to is peritonitis. This basically consists of an inflammation of the peritoneum caused by a fungus or bacterium. The peritoneum is a type of tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers nearly all the organs in the abdominal area. It generally happens because of the release of pus by the inflamed appendix.

Besides this, many other complications may arise from appendicitis, such as bacteremia and abscesses, which are accumulations of pus around the organs. Abscesses can be either hepatic or peri-appendicular.

Diseases like appendicitis occur and are very common. And although we all know this, many times it is simply unavoidable. However, it is important to know what the main symptoms are and how to identify this type of disease so that their consequences are not the worst.

It is always possible to prevent to some degree and avoid things getting worse, but for that it is necessary to stay alert at all times and know what kind of disease we are dealing with. And this is exactly why having information about appendicitis is so useful.

See Also: Stomach Pain in Pregnancy – Is This Symptom Common?
Photo: Canon EOS 600d Camera