What is Appendicitis? Acute appendicitis and chronic appendicitis
Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed, for example due to a blockage.
In the United States, appendicitis is the most common cause of abdominal pain due to surgery. About 9% of Americans will experience appendicitis (appendicitis) in their lifetime.
The cecum is a small pouch attached to the intestine and is located on the right lower abdomen. When the appendix is blocked, bacteria can grow in it. This causes pus and swelling that can put painful pressure on the abdomen. Appendicitis can also block blood flow.
If appendicitis is not treated, the appendix may rupture. Bacteria can then flow into the abdominal cavity, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal problems.
acute appendicitis
Acute appendicitis is severe and sudden appendicitis that is most common in children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 30 years and occurs more often in men than women. Pain tends to develop rapidly and intensify over 24 hours.
Acute appendicitis requires immediate treatment. If left untreated, the appendix may rupture. This can lead to serious and fatal complications.
Acute appendicitis is more common than chronic appendicitis, occurring in about 7 to 9% of Americans.
chronic appendicitis
Chronic appendicitis is less common than acute appendicitis. It occurs in only about 1.5% of people who have already had appendicitis.
In chronic appendicitis, symptoms may be relatively mild and usually occur after acute appendicitis. Symptoms may reappear and disappear over weeks, months, and even years.
This type of appendicitis can be difficult to diagnose. Also, sometimes it is not diagnosed until it develops into acute appendicitis.
appendicitis symptoms
Appendicitis pain often begins as a mild cramp in the upper abdomen or navel area, then moves down the right side of the abdomen.
started suddenly
Worse when moving or coughing
Intense symptoms that wake you from sleep
Severe pain never felt before
Worse within hours
anorexia
Indigestion
nausea, vomiting
abdominal distension
slight fever
Rarely, bowel problems may occur, such as:
diarrhea
Constipation
desire to defecate
gas charm
If you are constipated and suspect you may have appendicitis, avoid taking laxatives or giving enemas. These treatments can cause the appendix to rupture.
See your doctor if you have tenderness in the right side of your abdomen along with other symptoms of appendicitis. Appendicitis can get worse and become an emergency.
Complications of appendicitis (appendicitis during pregnancy)
A ruptured appendix can cause serious complications, allowing stool and bacteria to flow into the abdominal cavity. A ruptured appendix (cecum) can cause painful and potentially life-threatening infections, including:
peritonitis
If the appendix ruptures and bacteria flow into the abdominal cavity, it can cause “peritonitis,” or infection and inflammation of the peritoneum (the lining of the peritoneum). Peritonitis is a serious and potentially fatal condition.
Symptoms of peritonitis include:
rapid heart rate
high fever
shortness of breath or rapid breathing
severe and persistent abdominal pain
Treatment options include antibiotics and surgery to remove the appendix.
abscess
An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms around a ruptured appendix. These abscesses are a way for white blood cells to defend your body from infection. Bacterial infections should be treated with antibiotics and boils should be drained.
Drainage may be done before or during surgery.
blood poisoning
Rarely, bacteria from a ruptured abscess may travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. This is an extremely serious emergency condition known as sepsis. Symptoms of sepsis include:
high or low fever
delirium
severe drowsiness
Shortness of breath
Sepsis is a medical emergency that kills 1 in 3 people. If sepsis is suspected, call 911 immediately.
appendicitis during pregnancy
Acute appendicitis is the most common nonmyeloid emergency requiring surgery during pregnancy. Acute appendicitis occurs in 0.04-0.2% of pregnant women.
Symptoms of appendicitis can be mistaken for the usual discomforts of pregnancy. Pregnancy also causes the appendix to move slightly higher up in our abdomen, which affects the location of appendicitis pain. This can make diagnosis more difficult.
Delay in diagnosis and treatment can increase the risk of complications, including miscarriage.
The outlook and recovery time for appendicitis depends on several factors, including:
your overall health
Complications from appendicitis or surgery
certain types of treatment
If you have had laparoscopic surgery to remove your appendix, you may be discharged a few hours after the surgery or the next day.
If you have open surgery, you will need to spend more time in the hospital for further recovery. Open surgery is more invasive than laparoscopic surgery and usually requires more follow-up.
It may take several weeks to fully recover from appendicitis and surgery, and recovery may take longer if complications arise.
I hope everyone is well aware of the symptoms of appendicitis and can receive medical support immediately without time delay.
Then I hope you have a healthy day today 🙂