Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a finger shaped pouch that projects from colon (large intestine) on the lower right side of abdomen. The appendix does not have any specific purpose in our body. Appendicitis is the most common cause of abdominal pain resulting in surgery. More common in males and age group between 10 to 30 years.
๐๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฌ
โข Sudden pain on the right side of the lower abdomen.
โข Pain that begins around navel and often shifts to lower right abdomen.
โข Pain worsens by cough, walk or other jarring movements.
โข Loss of appetite.
โข Low grade fever.
โข Constipation or diarrhea.
โข Abdominal bloating
๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ
A blockage in the lumen of appendix that results in infection leading to appendicitis. The bacteria multiply rapidly, causing the appendix to become inflamed, swollen and filled with pus. If not treated, the appendix can become gangrenous and rupture.
๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ
โข A ruptured appendix
Infection spreads throughout the abdomen requiring urgent surgery
โข A pocket of pus
If localized burst of appendix occurs leading to development of pocket of infection (Appendicular abscess)
๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ
Blood test- High blood cell count
Urine test- To rule out urinary tract infection or kidney stone
Pregnancy test- To rule out ectopic pregnancy in female
Imaging test- Abdominal X-Ray, Ultrasound, CT scan
๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
Mainstay of treatment of acute appendicitis is early surgery (within 24 to 48 hours).
Appendectomy is surgical removal of appendix.
๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ
The surgery is done through few small incisions through which special surgical tools and a video camera are inserted into the abdomen to remove appendix.
๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ
Early healing with less pain and scarring.
Faster recovery
๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ฒ
โข Avoid strenuous activity for 3-5 days
โข Support your abdomen when you cough
โข Children may return to school after a week
โข Waiting period of 2-4 weeks to resume strenuous activity such as gym or sports
โข There may be a temporary constipation. Staying hydrated and eating fiber rich food helps regulate bowel movement.
๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐๐ญ ๐ก๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ
โข Fresh fruits and vegetables
โข Kidney bean or other salads
โข Swapping white rice for brown rice
โข Using whole wheat flour
โข Breakfast- cereals, yogurt and salads.
๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ง ๐ฐ๐๐ญ๐๐ก ๐ ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐จ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ง๐๐ฅ