Appendicitis is a painful inflammation of the appendix, and it is something that needs medical attention because it can be a serious problem if left untreated for any length of time. In the following article we will briefly examine what appendicitis is in a bit more detail and talk about what to do if you have appendicitis attack symptoms.

Diseases Simulating Appendicitis Appendix is a tubular organ of narrow caliber; found attached to the first part of colon. Its structure is similar to that of intestine. Inflammation of it is termed as appendicitis. Its lumen may get obstructed to initiate infection. Infection can occur as such without an obstruction.

Appendicitis can be either acute or chronic. Acute appendicitis develops faster and the presence of the illness is easier to detect. Chronic appendicitis is slower to evolve and it is more difficult to diagnose. The most common symptoms of appendicitis are intense, continuous abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea and fever. The pain usually begins in the umbilical region of the abdomen and later shifts to the right lower side. The abdominal pain characteristic to acute appendicitis intensifies with physical effort.

It is thought that appendicitis begins when the opening from the appendix into the cecum becomes blocked. The blockage may be due to a build-up of thick mucus within the appendix or to stool that enters the appendix from the cecum. Causes of appendicitis's are not very clear but it can result to an obstruction when food waste or a hard piece of stool can become trapped in an orifice of the cavity that runs the length of your appendix. Appendicitis may also follow an infection, such as a gastrointestinal viral infection, or it may result from other types of inflammation.

Acute appendicitis refers to complete obstruction of the vermiform appendix. Bacterial infections are also a cause of acute appendicitis. The appendix is a tubular extension of the large intestine and its function is thought to be related with the process of digestion. When the appendix is blocked by calculus and feces or it is squeezed by the lymph nodes (due to bacterial infection, the lymph nodes usually become swollen and press against the appendix), it swells and usually doesn’t receive enough blood. Bacteria grow inside the appendix, eventually causing its death.

Another factor which triggers inflammation of the appendix is the introduction of stool which travels from the cecum into the appendix blocking the opening, once this stool particle gets to this part of the intestine it becomes very hard, almost rock-like, this rock is also referred to as fecalith which literally means rock of stool.

The usual symptom of appendicitis is excessive pain, which starts suddenly on the lower right side of the body. It starts near the naval and then expands. It occurs at odd times and gets worse by the hour. You will be unable to move around or breathe and even cough or sneeze.

Not all symptoms must be present to have a positive diagnosis. Pain gets worse while movements, coughing and deep breathing. The ileal area becomes very sensitive, it hurts when it is touched. Patients have so called ”tenesmus”, meaning the sensation they need to eliminate fecals to diminish pains.

The treatment of appendicitis is strictly surgical and resumes in the removal of the appendix and draining of a possible formed abscess. The operation is called appendectomy. Antibiotics must be administered before and after surgery to prevent a potential peritonitis. Two methods of removing the appendix are available to surgeons today: classical surgery or laparoscopic surgery; the last mentioned one is more advantageous because of the smaller incision needed and also because the patient recovers faster.

It is difficult to diagnose this condition. The symptoms are oftentimes vague and non-localized. They can also be similar to symptoms of other common illnesses like urinary tract infection, gastritis, gallbladder diseases and other medical problems.
To properly diagnose the condition, the person suffering from it may have to undergo an abdominal and rectal exam. They may have to undergo a urine test and blood test to rule out possible causes like urinary infection or other infections. The physician may also advise an ultrasound or CT scan.

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