APPENDICITIS

APPENDICITIS IS A CONDITION WHEN THE APPENDIX BECOMES INFLAMED AND FILLS WITH PUS. THIS CAN BE CAUSED BY A VIRAL INFECTION, BUT IS MOST OFTEN THE RESULT OF AN OBSTRUCTION OF THE OPENING TO THE APPENDIX BY FOOD OR FECAL MATTER.

SYMPTOMS OF APPENDICITIS INCLUDE PAIN THAT STARTS IN THE MID-ABDOMEN, THEN OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL HOURS TRAVELS TO THE RIGHT LOWER ABDOMEN. THE PAIN BECOMES SHARPER OVER TIME AND SETTLES IN THE RIGHT LOWER QUADRANT OF THE ABDOMEN. TENDERNESS OVER THIS AREA, NAUSEA, VOMITING, FEVER, AND ABDOMEN SWELLING ARE ADDITIONAL SYMPTOMS THAT ACCOMPANY APPENDICITIS. IF THE APPENDIX RUPTURES ITS CONTENTS SPILL INTO THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY. THIS CAUSES AN INFLAMMATION KNOWN AS PERITONITIS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS INFECTION THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION AS IT CAN BE FATAL.

DIAGNOSES OF APPENDICITIS WOULD USUALLY START WITH A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PATIENT. A BLOOD TEST WOULD BE ORDERED TO CHECK IF THE WHITE BLOOD COUNT IS HIGH. IF AN APPENDICITIS IS SUSPECTED, A CT OF THE ABDOMEN AND PELVIS IS THE MOST COMMONLY ORDER WITH ORAL AND IV CONTRAST.

TREATMENT OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS IS ALMOST ALWAYS SURGICAL REMOVAL OF THE APPENDIX IN A PROCEDURE KNOWN AS AN APPENDECTOMY.