Introduction
The appendix is a short tube-like structure around 8-10 cm long which is attached to the caecum, the first section of the large intestine on the right side of the abdomen.
Appendicitis is when the appendix becomes inflamed. The condition is fairly common, affecting around 5% of people, primarily those aged between 10 and 30. All cases of appendicitis are considered a medical emergency.
The appendix has always been regarded as a 'vestigial organ' i.e. perhaps useful in young children but no longer required in adults, and it is perfectly possible to live completely normally without an appendix.
Symptoms
Appendicitis can cause the following symptoms:
- Right lower abdominal pain, which may begin as a dull pain around the navel before moving to the right side.
- Appetite loss.
- Fever.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhoea.
Causes
The normal cause of appendicitis is some form of blockage to the appendix inlet – this can be a stool or lymphoid tissue, especially in children. The appendix then swells and fills with secretions or mucous and becomes inflamed and infected, resulting in appendicitis.
Tests & Diagnosis
Many of the symptoms of appendicitis are shared with other conditions and at times appendicitis can be difficult to diagnose. Most often however, a careful medical history and physical examination will confirm the diagnosis. Blood tests, urine tests and imaging such as ultrasound or CT scan may also aid in the diagnosis or detect other conditions that can mimic appendicitis.
Treatment
In most cases of appendicitis, the appendix needs to be removed in a surgical procedure called an appendicectomy. This is to prevent more serious consequences of the appendix rupturing, which will spread infection through the abdominal cavity and may cause peritonitis, a condition that can be life-threatening.
