Things You Don’t Know About Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a medical condition that usually affects 5 to 7% of people between 10 to 30 years of age. The symptoms of appendicitis may first seem like indigestion. People sometimes feel nauseous or have diarrhea, which is accompanied by vomiting and fever.

The pain gets worse over time and usually occurs near the belly button or on the lower right side of the belly. Appendicitis needs to be treated on priority before it progresses into life-threatening conditions caused by the appendix burst.

Below are some facts about this seemingly unnecessary organ that causes so much trouble if left untreated.

Pain that stops isn’t always a good thing

Appendicitis is a common ailment in very young or older adults. It’s also more common in women, especially during pregnancy. Sometimes people may experience severe pain, but due to the appendix ruptures, the pain is relieved. However, this is only temporary pain relief. When appendix ruptures, fluids can seep into the abdomen and cause an infection called peritonitis, which can be life-threatening.  A ruptured appendix requires immediate surgery to remove the tissue and to clean the abdominal cavity to prevent peritonitis.

You don’t need your appendix for daily functional activities

 The appendix has been thought of as a useless leftover from the evolutionary process. Its function is not entirely clear. This organ may assist the body to fight against infection during early life, but it’s not a prominent organ.  After an appendix removal surgery or an appendectomy, other organs like bowel, spleen, and, lymph nodes take over the infection-fighting work of the appendix, maintaining the ideal level of immunity. You will be able to carry out all your daily activities, after recovering from the surgery without any hindrance.

Most appendectomies are minimally invasive

 Today, most appendectomies are laparoscopic procedures, using only smaller incisions and possibly a shorter recovery period compared to open surgery. Laparoscopic surgery provides a surgeon with better visualization and improved precision and accuracy during the procedure.

Experts recommend laparoscopic surgery in cases where the appendix is intact with no further complications. Open surgery is suggested in cases of appendix bursts where the infection has spread to the surrounding organs.

In capsule, you should always assess the pain in the abdomen and other common symptoms carefully before passing it off as a stomach bug. If detected on time, appendicitis can be treated with antibiotics alone.

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All You Must Know About Appendicitis

An organ that most people are not so worried about, if not given proper care and timely attention when needed can even cause death.

Appendix, the small finger-shaped organ on the right side of the abdomen is a silent killer. Most of us are not familiar with it as it doesn’t play any role in the body functionalities and can make you suffer anytime. If a blockage inside the appendix causes inflammation and infection in the organ, it causes an enormous amount of severe abdominal pain and fever. Sometimes this condition can end up in surgery and removal of the organ. This condition is commonly called as appendicitis.  

Appendicitis most commonly occurs during adolescence and in the 20s but may occur at any later age as well. The reason behind this is not fully understood. Numerous people undergo surgery and remove the organ (appendectomies) every year.

Causes:

Blockage in the appendix is normally formed by a small piece of stool, a foreign body or sometimes by worms. As a result of the blockage, the appendix becomes inflamed and infected. If the inflammation continues without treatment, the appendix can rupture. This might later turn into some severe infections and health problems.

Major symptoms are:

• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Inability to pass gas
• Fever 
• Constipation 
• Loss of appetite 

Diagnosis & Treatments

Doctors usually, suggest imaging tests such as  Computed Tomography (CT) or Ultrasonography in order to diagnose properly and to conduct the surgery if needed. With an early operation, the chance of death from appendicitis is very low. But without surgery or taking proper antibiotics, people may die. 

Patients can usually leave the hospital in one to three days after the surgery, and recovery is usually quick and complete. However, older people often take a longer time to recover. There are other ways of treatments like; Antibiotics, Draining the Abscess, Pain relievers, IV fluids, liquid diets, etc. 

Prevention

There are no proven prevention methods for appendicitis. But we can lower the risk by controlling the diet. This is the best possible way available. Researchers found that people having a luxury fiber diet are free from the threats of appendicitis. 

Maintaining a food habit that includes fruits, vegetables, lentils, split peas, beans, and other legumes, oatmeal, brown rice, whole wheat, and other whole grains can help keep issues related to appendicitis at bay. 

Drinking plenty of water, regularly exercising, avoiding lifting heavy objects, keeping the surgical area hygiene, etc are the methods of easy recovery for those who have undergone an appendicitis surgery.

Visit Us: drnikhilagnihotri.com
Blog Reviewed by: Dr. Nikhil Agnihotri
Mail Us: drnikhilslaparoscopy@gmail.com

Book an appointment: drnikhilagnihotri.com/book-appointment