The appendix is a vestigial organ which is a finger shaped pouch that projects out of your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen. Appendicitis is a condition where the appendix becomes inflamed and swells with pus giving rise to an acute abdomen.

It is more commonly seen in the adolescent/young adult age group and is more prevalent amongst males. Daily Mirror Life spoke with DR.K.K.W. PERERA to get his view points on appendicitis.

 

What are the symptoms and signs of appendicitis?

There’s an aching pain that begins around the navel area and shifts to your lower right abdomen.

The pain becomes sharper over several hours.

There’s tenderness when pressure is applied to the lower right abdomen.

Rebound tenderness-sharp pain that occurs when the pressure of the hand is released in the lower right abdominal area.

Pain that gets worse over jarring movements like coughing, walking.

Rigid abdomen-the abdomen doesn’t move up and down with respiration.

Generalized features such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and low grade fever.Inability to pass gas, diarrhea.

In some instances there is an abdominal mass in the lower right abdomen.

The location of the pain may vary depending on the position of your’ appendix.
 

 

What are the causes of appendicitis?

 

The causes of appendicitis are not always clear but sometimes it can occur as a result of:

An obstruction-food waste or a hard piece of stool (faecolith) can block the lumen of the appendix.

An infection-appendicitis may also follow an infection, such as a gastrointestinal viral infection.

In both cases bacteria inside the appendix will rapidly multiply causing the appendix to become inflamed, swollen

and filled with pus. If not treated promptly the appendix might rupture.

 

What are the complications of appendicitis?

 

Appendicitis can cause serious complications that maybe life threatening such as:

Rupture of the appendix-If the appendix ruptures the contents of the intestines and the infectious organisms can leak into the abdominal cavity giving rise to an infection in the abdominal cavity(peritonitis)

Appendiceal abscess formation-An abscess is a pocket full of pus and infectious material which may burst and seep into other intestinal organs causing a more widespread infection.

 

What are the tests that can be done to arrive at a diagnosis?

Pain from the abdomen can arise due to a multitude of health problems other than appendicitis therefore establishing a diagnosis can sometimes be difficult but after taking a history of the signs and symptoms and performing a thorough physical examination a clinical diagnosis can be made.

Tests that are used to support the clinical diagnosis of appendicitis include:

Blood tests-this allows the doctor to check for a high white cell and neutrophil counts indicating an ongoing bacterial infection.

Urine tests-this is done in order to exclude urinary tract infections and kidney stones as the causation for the abdominal pain.

Imaging tests-your doctor might also recommend an abdominal x-ray, an ultrasound scan or a CT scan to help confirm the diagnosis of appendicitis.

 

How is appendicitis treated?

Appendicitis treatment usually involves surgery to remove the inflamed appendix, and you might be put on intravenous antibiotics to get the infection under control, prevent bacterial spread and abscess formation. The surgery can either be an open appendectomy commonly in the case of a ruptured appendix or a laparoscopic appendectomy which allows faster healing.

By Samurddhi Tillekeratne