All About Appendicitis

Inflammation of the appendix is known as appendicitis. The condition is normally considered as a medical emergency and the inflamed organ is removed surgically. Removal of the appendix does not create any problems as the organ itself has no known function in the human body.

Diagnosis-The best and swiftest way of detecting an inflamed appendix is by pressing the Mc Burney’s point. This point is found between the hip bone and the umbilicus. Apart from pain, the patient almost always complains of loss of appetite, vomiting and nausea, diarrhea and constipation. There may be abdominal bloating and low grade fever associated with the condition. People suffering from chronic appendicitis may not be diagnosed as easily. They are not often in acute distress and the symptoms may be very similar to other abdominal diseases.

Since the symptoms of appendicitis are not very conclusive, doctors often resort to other means for diagnosis of the disease. Blood analysis, computerized tomography as well as endoscopy can help a doctor to diagnose the seriousness of the condition effectively.

Occurrence- Everyone from the young to the old may be afflicted by it. The condition is not age specific. However in case of infants and elderly late diagnosis may pose a problem. The aggravated disease may also prove to be fatal in elderly people. The condition may be impossible to detect in HIV positive people as they do not have any specific complaints. Appendicitis is also difficult to detect in case of diabetics and obese persons. Late detection may require immediate surgery and the patient often does not have the time to take the usual precautions.

With the advancement of medical science, appendicitis has ceased to be life threatening. However, you should consult a physician even if you feel that you have the slightest symptom. The condition requires immediate medical attention. If left untreated, the patient can die due to peritonitis and shock.