Pronounced: Ah-PEN-de-SITE-is
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is a small, tube-like organ that hangs from the large intestine. It appears to have no clear function.
Appendicitis usually occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed. This can be caused by something trapped in the appendix, such as:
The lining of the appendix continues to produce mucus, but it has no place to go. Bacteria normally found in the intestines multiply and make toxins in the lining of the appendix. Pressure builds and causes severe pain in the abdomen. The wall of the appendix can break open. If the appendix ruptures, its contents can spill into the abdominal cavity. This causes serious inflammation in the abdominal cavity called peritonitis , which can be fatal.
These factors increase your chance of developing appendicitis:
Symptoms usually come on suddenly. Pain generally increases during a 6- to 12-hour period. Patients may experience some or all of the following symptoms:
If the appendix ruptures, symptoms include:
Note: Symptoms may be atypical in infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Seek immediate medical care if you have severe pain in the abdomen. Appendicitis can be hard to diagnose. Symptoms vary and can be similar to symptoms of other diseases.
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. The exam will include:
Other tests to determine the cause of your pain may include:
Appendicitis is treated by surgically removing the appendix as soon as possible. If the diagnosis is not certain, the doctor will carefully monitor your condition for 6-12 hours before operating. You will also be given antibiotics to fight infection.
Researchers are studying to see if surgery can be avoided in certain cases. For example, in a study, patients were treated with intravenous antibiotics and observed, rather than having surgery right away. *¹
If you are diagnosed with appendicitis, follow your doctor's instructions.
RESOURCES:
American College of Surgeons
http://www.facs.org/
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php/
Healthy U
http://www.healthyalberta.com/
References:
American College of Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.facs.org/ . Accessed January 27, 2009.
Dambro MR. Griffith's 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999.
Diagnosis of appendicitis in emergency departments. Am Fam Physician. 2003;67:2390.
Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby-Year Book, Inc; 1998.
Feldman M, Scharschmidt BF, Sleisenger MH. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 1998.
JAMA patient page: appendicitis JAMA. 1999;282:1102.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niddk.nih.gov/ . Accessed January 27, 2009.
Sabiston DC Jr. Textbook of Surgery. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Co.; 1997.
*¹7/13/2007 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Styrud J, Eriksson S, Nilsson I, et al. Appendectomy versus antibiotic treatment in acute appendicitis. a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial. World J Surg. 2006;30:1033-1037.
Last reviewed January 2009 by Marcin Chwistek, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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