Acute Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus.

Appendix is a finger-shaped pouch that projects out from your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen.

This small structure has no known essential purpose.

The main symptom of appendicitis is pain that typically begins around your umbilicus region

that shifts to your lower right abdomen.

The pain of appendicitis usually increases over a period of 6 to 12 hours,

eventually it may become very severe.

Anyone may develop appendicitis, but it commonly strikes people between the ages of 10 and 30.

The standard treatment for appendicitis is surgical removal of the appendix.

Appendicitis cause a variety of symptoms that may change over time:

As the inflammation spreads to nearby tissues, the pain may become sharper and more severe.

Eventually, the pain tends to settle in your lower right abdomen — near your appendix known as McBurney point.

It is about halfway between your umbilicus and the top of your right pelvic bone.

But the locations of the pain may vary, depending on age factor and the position of your appendix.

Young children or pregnant women, especially, may have the pain in different areas.

What makes pain worse???

If you apply gentle pressure to the area that hurts, it will feel tender.

As you release the pressure, especially if you do it suddenly, you will often feel rebound tenderness.

It will also tend to get worse if you cough, walk or make other jarring movements especially if the inflamed appendix is

touching the peritoneum — the silk-like membrane that lines the inner abdominal wall and enfolds the intestines.

The pain may get lessen if you lie on your side and curled your knees up toward your chest.

In addition to pain, you may have other appendicitis symptoms:

Such as,

Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
A low-grade fever that starts after other symptoms appear
Constipation
Bloatedness
Diarrhea
Abdominal distension