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Appendicitis
Medical Questions » Appendicitis
| Name: Appendicitis |
| Also known as: |
| Infection of the appendix, which is a narrow dead end tube about 12cm. long that attaches to the cecum (first part of the large intestine). An almost unknown condition in poorer countries for dietary reasons, and the lack of fiber in Western diets is often blamed, although its incidence is steadily falling due to better dietary education. In other mammals, particularly those that eat grass, the appendix is an important structure which aids in the digestion of cellulose, but in man it serves no useful purpose. |
Causes of Appendicitis
If the narrow tube of the appendix becomes blocked by feces, food, mucus or some foreign body, bacteria start breeding in the closed-off area behind the blockage. |
Symptoms of Appendicitis
Pain around the navel that soon moves to the lower right side of the abdomen just above the pelvic bone and steadily worsens. Often associated with loss of appetite, slight diarrhea and a mild fever. |
Tests for Appendicitis
No specific diagnostic test, but blood and urine tests are done to exclude other causes of pain. The removed appendix will be sent to a pathologist to confirm the diagnosis. |
Treatment for Appendicitis
The only effective treatment is surgical removal of the appendix in a simple operation (appendectomy) which takes about 20 minutes. The usual hospital stay is only two days, and patients return to work in seven to ten days. The operation is sometimes done through laparoscopes (1cm. diameter tubes). The surgeon looks through one and operates through two others, leaving only three tiny scars scattered across the belly. This speeds recovery so that sometimes only a single night is required in hospital.
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Complications of Appendicitis of its treatment
If untreated, the appendix becomes steadily more infected, full of pus, and eventually bursts to cause peritonitis (see separate entry). |
Likely Outcome of Appendicitis
Very good results from treatment. |
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