Appendicitis: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix. It is caused when the appendix gets blocked due to stones, parasites, or tumors. The symptoms of appendicitis include abdominal pain, nausea, and loss of appetite. If left untreated, appendicitis can also result in the rupture of the appendix. Appendicitis can be treated through the removal of the appendix surgically or by taking certain antibiotics. 

Key Takeaways: Appendicitis, Abdomen, Appendix and Vestigial organ

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What is Appendicitis? 

Appendicitis is a medical condition that causes inflammation of the appendix. The human appendix is a finger-like, blind-ended tube that is located in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen, near the right hip bone. The appendix is a vestigial organ (organs in the body that have lost their original function through evolution), it serves no function in the human body.

Appendicitis 

Appendicitis is generally very common, having millions of patients affected by it around the world annually. It is also the No. 1 cause of abdominal pain requiring surgery. Some of the appendicitis cases are also fatal. On average, 250,000 cases of appendicitis are seen in the United States every year.

The inflation of the appendix due to appendicitis results in pain, discomfort, and nausea. Immediate treatment of appendicitis is necessary as the appendix might rupture if left untreated. 

Causes of Appendicitis 

Some of the primary causes of appendicitis are as follows: 

• Abdominal trauma or injury 
• Intestinal worms 
• Blockage due to calcified faecal deposits 
• Gastrointestinal Infections 
• Digestive tract infection 
• Inflammatory bowel disease 
• Improper bowel movement due to low fiber intake

Symptoms of Appendicitis 

The symptoms shown by a person having appendicitis are as follows: 

• Abdominal pain 
• Nausea
• Vomiting 
• Fever 
• Swollen belly 
• Diarrhoea
• Constipation 
• Loss of appetite 

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Appendicitis Diagnosis 

Some of the diagnostic techniques to detect appendicitis are as follows:

• Ultrasound: Ultrasound is the preferred first choice to detect appendicitis, especially in children. 
• Computed Tomography (CT): CT Scan is more accurate than ultrasound for the detection of appendicitis especially in adults and adolescents. CT Scan is not advised for pregnant women and children due to the risk of exposure to harmful radiation. 
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRI is used as an alternative to CT scan for the detection of appendicitis in children and pregnant women.
• Blood and Urine Test: Although not a conclusive test, a CBC (Complete Blood Count) can be performed to check for the presence of any infection. 

Appendicitis Treatment 

In most appendicitis cases, the surgical removal of the appendix has been the best course of action. The surgical removal of the appendix is called Appendectomy or Appendicectomy. The surgery can either be an open surgery or laparoscopic surgery, with laparoscopic surgery being more advantageous. Antibiotics can also be used at the beginning but they have shown to be less effective. 

Open Appendectomy is carried out by making a large incision in the lower right area of the abdomen. After identifying the appendix and carefully inspecting the infection, the appendix is removed. After that, the incision is closed using surgical staples or stitches. 

Laparoscopic Appendectomy includes making 3-4 incisions in the abdomen and inserting a laparoscope in one of the incisions, which is then connected to a monitor to assist the surgeon. The other incisions are used for the removal of the appendix. Laparoscopic Surgery is more advantageous than open appendectomy as it has a shorter postoperative recovery and less post-operative pain. 

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Things to Remember 

• Appendicitis is a medical condition that causes inflammation of the appendix. The inflation of the appendix due to appendicitis results in pain, discomfort, and nausea. 
• The human appendix is a finger-like, blind-ended tube that is located in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen, near the right hip bone.
• Causes of appendicitis include abdominal trauma or injury, intestinal worms, blockage due to calcified faecal deposits, etc. 
• Appendicitis can be diagnosed through CT Scan, Ultrasound, MRI, and Blood and Urine tests. 
• The symptoms of appendicitis are Abdominal pain, Nausea, Vomiting, Fever, Swollen belly, Diarrhoea, etc.
• Appendicitis can be treated through Open or Laparoscopic Appendectomy. 

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