APPENDICITIS

What is Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is one of the most common among all serious intestinal disorders. The appendix is a small, tube-like structure attached to the first part of the large intestine, also called the colon. The appendix is located in the lower right portion of the abdomen. It is usually three to four inches long. It has no known function.


Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix and it could also be filled with pus. If the inflammation continues to increase and affect the inner tissues in the abdomen known as peritoneum, the appendix may rupture and discharge its pus into the abdominal cavity. This may result in a serious state known as peritonitis.


The standard treatment of appendicitis calls for surgical removal of the appendix. Appendicitis presents itself in acute and chronic forms and affects both genders equally. Removal of the appendix is the effective remedy and appears to cause no change in digestive function.

If treatment is delayed, the appendix can burst, causing infection and even death.


This intestinal disorder now accounts for about half the acute abdominal emergencies occurring between the ages of 10 and 30. Appendicitis apparently is more frequent in developed countries than in underdeveloped countries.

Symptoms of Appendicitis:

Appendicitis usually begin with a sudden pain in the center of the abdomen, which gradually shifts to the lower right side. The pain of appendicitis usually increases over a period of six to 12 hours, and eventually may become very severe. The pain may be preceded by general discomfort in the abdomen, indigestion, diarrhea or constipation.


The appendicitis-inflicted person may have a mild fever varying from 100° to 102°f. Nausea is common sign and the patient may vomit once or twice. The muscles of the right side of the abdomen become tense and rigid. Lying on one side and drawing up both the knees towards the chest could bring some comfort. The pain increases on the right side on pressing the left side of the abdomen. Coughing and sneezing makes the pain worse.

Incase of peritonitis (when the appendix ruptures and discharges its pus into the abdominal cavity) the temperature rises and the patient becomes pale and clammy. This condition may call for urgent operation. In the chronic state of appendicitis, the patient may suffer from recurrent pain in the right lower abdomen with constipation, loss of appetite and mild nausea. It is advisable to avoid laxatives and pain medications in this situation and it is suggested to visit a qualified physician if such appendix symptoms prevail.

Causes of Appendicitis:

Appendicitis is caused by a toxic bowel condition. It relates to blockage of the inside of the appendix, known as the lumen. When an excessive amount of poisonous waste material is accumulated in the caecum (a pouch connected to the large intestine), The blockage leads to increased pressure, impaired blood flow, and inflammation. If the blockage is not treated, gangrene and rupture (breaking or tearing) of the appendix can result.

Hereditary may be a factor too. For example, appendicitis that runs in families may result from a genetic variant that is subject to obstruction of the appendiceal lumen.

Bacterial or viral infections in the digestive tract can lead to swelling of lymph nodes, which squeeze the appendix and cause obstruction. This swelling of lymph nodes is known as lymphoid hyperplasia. For egs:Appendicitis may also follow an infection, such as a gastrointestinal viral infection, or it may result from other types of inflammation. In both cases, bacteria may subsequently invade rapidly, causing the appendix to become inflamed and filled with pus. If not treated promptly, your appendix eventually may rupture.

Obstruction of food waste or a hard piece of stool (fecal stone) could result in such substances being trapped in an orifice of the cavity that runs the length of the appendix.

Traumatic injury to the abdomen may also lead to appendicitis in a small number of people.

Appendicitis Diet :

The patient should be put to bed immediately on encountering primary signs of severe pain, vomiting and fever. Resting is of utmost importance in the treatment of this disease. Controlling the urge to eat is the best remedy in such circumstances. It is therefore advisable for an appendicitis patient to resort to fasting, which is the only real cure for appendicitis. Absolutely no food should be given. Nothing except water should enter the system. Low enemas, containing about one pint (1/2litre) of warm water should be administered every day for the first three days to cleanse the lower bowel. Hot compresses may be placed over the painful area several times daily. Abdominal packs, made of a strip of wet sheet covered by a dry flannel cloth bound tightly around the abdomen, should be applied continuously until all acute symptoms subside.
When the acute symptoms of pain subside by about the third day the patient should be given a full enema containing about three pints of warm water and this should be repeated daily until all inflammation and pain have subsided. The patient can be given fruit juices from the third day onwards. This simple treatment sensibly applied will help overcome an appendicitis attack as it wards off all cases of digestive difficulties that could add to the discomfort of the person.

A fresh fruit juices regimen for three days can be progressed to 'an all-fruit diet’ for a further four or five days comprising of three meals a day of fresh juicy fruits. One can then gradually move to a well balanced diet based on three basic food groups namely seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits. A short fast should be followed by a full milk diet for two to three weeks incase of chronic appendicitis. In following this regimen a glass of milk should be taken every two hours from 8 a.m. To 8 p.m. After the full milk diet the patient should gradually embark upon a well balanced diet with emphasis on fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables.

Including vegetable juices especially carrot juice in combination with the juices of beets and cucumbers have been found to be valuable in the treatment of appendicitis. Regular use of tea made from fenugreek seeds has also proved helpful in preventing the appendix from becoming a dumping ground for excess mucous and intestinal waste.
Adopting all measures to eradicate constipation will help eliminate an appendicitis situation. Once the waste matter in the caecum has moved into the colon it reduces the irritation and thus the inflammation in the appendix will also reduce considerably and surgical removal of the appendix can be avoided.

Appendix pain symptoms:

If you are suffering from appendix pain symptoms like sharp, persistent pain in your lower abdomen reaching all the way to your back, you must consult your doctor as it could be appendicitis. When a person’s appendix bursts, symptoms like intense abdominal pain and localized inflammation are among the first signs. The appendix is a bag or pouch like organ attached to your colon. While the appendix has no known purpose in the functioning of the human body, an appendix pain can be debilitating and in severe, untreated cases, fatal.

Appendicitis is a condition in which the appendix is filled with pus and may be inflamed. Left untreated or not treated in time, the appendix may burst and symptoms will include pus and infection in other organs and regions of the abdomen.

Before the appendix can burst, symptoms such as nausea and extreme abdominal pain situated around the belly button are very likely. If you are suffering from any of the following appendix pain symptoms, you may have to go to the hospital immediately. The usual procedure used for the treatment of appendicitis is the surgical removal of the appendix.

Appendicitis Symptoms

Very often, the term appendix and appendicitis may be used interchangeably. However, appendicitis is the condition, while appendix is the organ that suffers from it.

Symptoms of an inflamed appendix include:

•  You may experience swelling or bloating in the stomach.
•  Nausea or vomiting.
•  There will be sudden loss of appetite or sharp pains after a meal.
•  A sharp pain or tenderness in the lower right abdomen region indicates appendicitis pain.
•  Inflamed appendix symptoms include pain in the lower abdomen region due to even simple physical activities like coughing, walking, or any movements that may cause a jarring effect.
•  Other appendicitis symptoms include loose motions or constipation, inability to pass gas, slight fever and inability to sit down or stand up on your own due to the pain or discomfort.
•  Look out for any painful symptoms of the appendix that have increased in the past 12 to 18 hours.

While there is no known cause for appendicitis, doctors believe that it could occur due to a viral or gastrointestinal infection. An inflammation in the abdominal cavity may also lead to the symptoms of appendicitis. To determine if a patient’s appendix has burst, symptoms and tests will be carefully recorded and so all medical information must be disclosed to the attending physician.

Appendicitis pain usually occurs in the right lower abdomen, although it may sometimes begin at the navel and stretch towards the abdomen. Symptoms of appendix pain may include tenderness in the area when touched. Appendicitis pain may also increase when you apply pressure on the region.

Treatment for Appendicitis

If you experience any of the above appendix pain symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. You may have to prepare yourself for a surgery to avoid an appendix burst. Symptoms of a ruptured appendix include infections in the abdominal cavity or pus seepage into the intestines.

In case of a ruptured appendix, surgery might involve draining out the pus through a tube before removing the inflamed appendix. You may be hospitalized after the surgery for observation.

Post appendix surgery special care must be taken. Despite the surgery, you may still experience some pain in the region. Talk to your doctor about the recovery time and the care you may have to take during the healing period. If you are recovering from a ruptured appendix surgery, your healing period may take several weeks. During this time, postpone any strenuous activity. Since any sudden or jarring movement may cause you discomfort, support your lower abdomen while coughing, laughing, walking, and so on.

Discuss with your doctor when you can return to normal activity. Some exhaustion or fatigue is normal. Make sure you get plenty of rest. Some pain medications can make you drowsy. Do not drive after taking these medications. However, if your pain medication does not help or you find yourself in considerable pain after the surgery, talk to your doctor immediately.

 Appendicitis Treatment

Appendicitis refers to inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is a narrow tube-like structure which is connected to the intestines. A blockage of the appendix causes it to become inflamed. In case the blockage persists, bacteria start infecting the inflamed tissue. Once the tissue dies due to loss of blood flow, the appendix can perforate or rupture. In very rare cases, a serious condition known as sepsis occurs in which the bacteria enter the blood stream and infect other areas of the body.
The cause of appendicitis is not certain. The obstruction may be caused by fecal matter or thick mucus. The stool or mucus hardens and obstructs the opening. The blockage may also be caused by swelling of the lymphatic tissue in the appendix. Bacteria that are normally present in the appendix may infect the appendix walls. When this happenes, the body responds to the bacterial attack and inflammation occurs. Conditions such as crohn’s disease and inflammatory bowel diseases may also be responsible for appendicitis. There is no hereditary link to appendicitis. It also does not transmit from one individual to another. The most apparent symptom of appendicitis is pain. The appendicitis pain begins in the center of the abdomen near the belly button. It is a dull vague pain that slowly travels to the lower right abdomen. Appendicitis symptoms may also include nausea, vomiting, appetite loss and fever. These symptoms may not occur in all cases. The symptoms usually develop within 4 to 48 hours. In some cases constipation or diarrhea may also occur. In the early stages, the symptoms may be similar to those of gastroenteritis. Once the appendix ruptures, the infection can spread in the abdomen. At this time, the appendix pain becomes diffused. Diagnosis is usually done through a physical examination. The doctor will check for pain in the lower right abdomen and inquire about other symptoms.

Once a diagnosis is made, an appendectomy is done. In this procedure, an incision is made over the area of the appendix. The appendix is then located and removed. Appendicitis treatment may also involve intake of antibiotics before the surgery. There is no home cure for appendicitis and once the condition develops, the infected appendix must be removed surgically. Pain relievers or laxatives should not be taken as this may interfere with the diagnosis. Once an appendectomy is conducted successfully, the individual may be advised to restrict physical activity for 2 to 4 weeks.