What is Appendicitis: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

What Is Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. An inflamed appendix can cause intense pain in your lower abdomen. As the inflammation worsens, it can lead to swelling of the appendix.

An inflamed appendix can burst and cause sepsis when the infection spreads to the bloodstream. This is a life-threatening medical emergency. Due to the risk involved, doctors usually advise appendectomy or the removal of the appendix.

Let us understand more about the appendix, appendix pain, types of appendicitis, its causes and treatment.

What Is an Appendix?

An appendix is a thin, finger-shaped pouch. It is a part of your gastrointestinal tract. It is located on the lower right side of your abdomen. The appendix is attached to your large intestine and contains beneficial gut bacteria.

Faeces moving through your large intestine can block or infect your appendix. This can cause inflammation in the appendix. When inflammation worsens, the appendix swells and bursts. A burst appendix can spread bacteria from the bowels to your abdominal cavity. This could also cause the infection to enter your bloodstream leading to sepsis.

What Are the Types of Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is either acute or chronic. Acute appendicitis is a common condition. It occurs suddenly and worsens over a short period.

Chronic appendicitis is a rare condition. It occurs when something irritates the appendix over a long period. Inflammatory bowel disease or mild bacterial growth can cause chronic appendicitis.

Chronic appendicitis can go unrecognised as its symptoms do not worsen like acute appendicitis. However, it may turn acute over time.

What Are the Symptoms of Appendicitis?

The signs and symptoms of appendicitis include the following:

• Sudden pain that begins around the navel and moves to the right side of your abdomen
• Pain that intensifies when you cough, walk or do any sudden movements.
• Nausea and vomiting develop as the pain worsens. Nausea lessens once the pain moves to the lower right side of your abdomen.
• Low fever that worsens with time. Fever is a sign of the inflammation increasing and spreading of the infection.
• The abdomen appears swollen or bloated. It is an indication of a ruptured appendix.
• Diarrhea or constipation occurs due to overactive bowels and frequent motions. This may occur if the inflammation of the appendix irritates the portion of the colon beside the appendix.
• Bloating and flatulence are advanced symptoms of appendicitis and indicate a ruptured appendix.
• Frequent urination may also happen if the appendicitis irritates the nerves connected to the bladder.

What Are the Causes of Appendicitis?

Because the appendix is located close to the large intestine, it risks getting clogged or infected. The bacteria in the large intestine can also get trapped in the appendix, multiply rapidly and cause inflammation, swelling and pus.

Other causes of inflammation of the appendix include the following:

• Appendix stones: Hard faecal deposits or appendix stones can clog the opening of the appendix. They contain bacteria which get trapped inside the appendix and cause infection.
• Lymphoid hyperplasia: The immune system releases white blood cells to fight infection in the tissue. Sometimes, this can cause the tissue in the appendix to swell. The obstruction in the appendix due to the swollen tissue can cause infection within the appendix.
• Colitis: Inflammatory bowel disease or inflammation in the colon due to an infection can affect the appendix. It can spread to the appendix or irritate the appendix.

Other conditions that could block the appendix are as follows:

• Parasites
• Cystic fibrosis
• Tumours

What Are the Complications of Appendicitis?

Appendicitis can cause serious complications, which include the following:

• Necrosis: Swelling in the appendix cuts off the blood supply to the appendix and leads to inflammation. Over time, this causes the tissues to decay. This decaying of the tissues is called necrosis.
• Gangrene: Necrosis can lead to the spreading of the infection. It can spread slowly through gangrene or death of the tissue or quickly when the appendix bursts.
• Abscess: Initially, the infection does not spread beyond the appendix. But, it creates an abscess or a pocket of pus outside the appendix. Sometimes, the appendix may form a mass called phlegmon around itself, which contains the infection and bursts over time.
• Septicemia (sepsis): Infection from the appendix can spread to other organs and the bloodstream. When bacteria from an infection in the appendix enters the bloodstream, it can cause sepsis and septic shock, which is life-threatening.

How Is Appendicitis Diagnosed?

Your doctor will perform a physical examination to diagnose appendicitis. They will check for signs such as pain or stiffening in response to pressure.

If you do not experience the usual symptoms of appendicitis, your doctor may advise further tests that include the following:

• Blood tests to check the white blood cell count or C-reactive protein count
• Imaging tests, such as CT Scan or an abdominal ultrasound, to detect if the appendix is swollen

What Are the Treatment Options for Appendicitis?

The usual treatment for appendicitis is medications and surgery.

• Medication: Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection and painkillers for pain relief. If your appendicitis is in its early stage, your doctor will suggest a waiting period to see if the condition improves with medications alone.
• Surgery: As an appendix can rupture within 36 hours of the first symptoms, your doctor will advise surgery within 24 hours of diagnosis. They will perform an appendectomy through laparoscopic surgery. As it is a minimally invasive surgery, you will be discharged on the same day. Your doctor will prescribe painkillers for a few days after the surgery.

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To Sum Up

An inflamed appendix can cause appendicitis. Inflammation may occur from infection due to appendix stones, colitis or swollen tissue. Timely diagnosis and prompt medical treatment will ensure a complete recovery. Please consult your family physician at the earliest if you experience pain in the lower right abdomen and if the pain is accompanied by fever and nausea. These are the earliest symptoms of appendicitis, which you must never ignore.

Always rely on a certified pathology laboratory like Metropolis India for blood tests. Metropolis India's high-end technology and accurate and timely reports help you receive immediate treatment, which ensures a full recovery.