Symptoms

What is appendicitis?

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Appendicitis is the leading cause of emergency abdominal operations.

What is the appendix?

The appendix is a fingerlike pouch attached to the large intestine in the lower right area of the abdomen, the area between the chest and hips. The large intestine is part of the body’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus. The movement of muscles in the GI tract, along with the release of hormones and enzymes, helps digest food. The appendix does not appear to have a specific function in the body, and removing it does not seem to affect a person’s health. The inside of the appendix is called the appendiceal lumen. Normally, mucus created by the appendix travels through the appendiceal lumen and empties into the large intestine. The large intestine absorbs water from stool and changes it from a liquid to a solid form.

What causes appendicitis?

An obstruction, or blockage of the appendiceal lumen causes appendicitis. Mucus backs up in the appendiceal lumen, causing bacteria that normally live inside the appendix to multiply. As a result, the appendix swells and becomes infected. Sources of blockage include:

• Stool, parasites, or growths that clog the appendiceal lumen
• Enlarged lymph tissue in the wall of the appendix, caused by infection in the GI tract or elsewhere in the body
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, long-lasting disorders that cause irritation and ulcers in the GI tract
• Trauma to the abdomen

An inflamed appendix will likely burst if not removed.

Who gets appendicitis?

Anyone can get appendicitis, although it is more common among people 10 to 30 years old.

What are the symptoms of appendicitis?  

The symptoms of appendicitis are typically easy for a health care provider to diagnose. The most common symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain. Abdominal pain with appendicitis usually:

• Occurs suddenly, often waking a person at night.
• Occurs before other symptoms.
• Begins near the belly button and then moves lower and to the right.
• Is unlike any pain felt before.
• Gets worse in a matter of hours.
• Gets worse when moving around, taking deep breaths, coughing, or sneezing.

Other symptoms of appendicitis may include:

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation or diarrhea
• An inability to pass gas
• A low-grade fever that follows other symptoms
• Abdominal swelling
• The feeling that passing stool will relieve discomfort.

Symptoms vary and can mimic the following conditions that cause abdominal pain:

• Intestinal obstruction—a partial or total blockage in the intestine that prevents the flow of fluids or solids.
• IBD.
• Pelvic inflammatory disease—an infection of the female reproductive organs.
• Abdominal adhesions—bands of tissue that form between abdominal tissues and organs. Normally, internal tissues and organs have slippery surfaces that let them shift easily as the body moves. Adhesions cause tissues and organs to stick together.
• Constipation—a condition in which a person usually has fewer than three bowel movements in a week. The bowel movements may be painful.

Source:

www.niddk.nih.gov/-/media/6D84A73168F0449A8242561E5C4684FD.ashx