Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, which is an organ located on the lower right side of the abdomen, shaped like a small finger-sized tube, and connected to the large intestine. The disease is usually acute, i.e. it appears suddenly and worsens over time. 

Symptoms of Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a medical emergency, which means it should be treated immediately as it can lead to serious complications. The most common symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain. The pain usually starts near the navel and may last for several hours. When the pain becomes severe, the symptoms are followed by nausea and vomiting.

After a few hours, the nausea goes away, but the pain starts to radiate to the lower right side of the abdomen, where the appendix is located. As time goes on, the pain gets worse and sharper. But keep in mind that the location, intensity and course of the pain may vary from person to person. Apart from abdominal pain and nausea, other symptoms include:

• Loss of appetite

• Constipation or diarrhea

• Mild fever

• Feeling unwell

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix

Causes

The main reason for appendicitis is blockage of the inner part of the appendix that empties into the large intestine, called the lumen of the appendix. Many people say that grains can cause appendicitis, but in fact, such cases are very rare. The blockage is more likely to be caused by the following factors.

• Hardened feces

• Enlargement of the lymphatic tissue within the appendix

• Infection of the digestive tract

• Growth of a cancerous or non-cancerous mass in the appendix or colon

• Solid phase and mineral deposits in the appendix

• Trauma to the abdomen

When the lumen of the appendix becomes blocked, it can swell and fill with pus (a yellowish-white fluid containing bacteria, dead white blood cells, and tissue debris). As pressure builds up, this disrupts the blood supply, leading to tissue death (necrosis). As a result, the appendix ruptures.

Once ruptured, the condition is considered a medical emergency. This is because the bacteria from the pus can spread throughout the abdominal cavity and cause an infection called peritonitis, leading to life-threatening sepsis. Therefore, the pain should not be ignored.

Cases of appendicitis due to consumption of seeds are very rare.

Diagnosis

To make a diagnosis of appendicitis, the doctor first needs to review the history of symptoms and the intensity of the pain, and then perform a mild physical examination to look for signs such as tension, stiffness and pain in response to pressure. If typical symptoms are present, then a diagnosis can be made.

But if not, other tests may be needed, such as:

• Blood tests to check for signs of inflammation, such as white blood cell count or C-reactive protein

• Ultrasound or CT scan to show if there is swelling of the appendix

Treatment
The most common treatment for appendicitis is surgical removal of the appendix. Upon diagnosis, surgery should be performed immediately before the appendix ruptures. When it has not ruptured, antibiotic therapy is an alternative treatment option, but antibiotics are actually still given after surgery.

Recovery after surgery usually does not take long, but this will depend on the type of procedure. Recovery will be faster in laparoscopic surgery than open surgery, except that there will be special instructions that must be followed, such as taking care of the incision site, taking medication, and the types of activities that are allowed.

So, any pain or soreness in the lower right side of the abdomen should not be ignored, as it could be a sign of appendicitis. This disease is considered a medical emergency because it can be life-threatening. Let's pay attention to the symptoms and see a doctor immediately!

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