Stomach pain can occur due to many reasons; appendicitis being one cause for it. Appendicitis occurs when the appendix, a part of the large intestine becomes infected. Inflammation, redness is seen at the site of infection and you experience intense pain as a result. Appendicitis is more frequent in the age groups between 10 to 30 years. In most of the cases, it has to be surgically removed as there is risk of developing a serious condition called ‘peritonitis’. It occurs when the infection becomes worse causing the appendix wall to rupture which in turn causes the infection to spread to the whole stomach area, specifically the peritoneum. So, a specialist advice is what is required to avoid further worsening of the condition and prompt action should be taken at the earliest to avoid complications.
Risk factors for appendicitis
Risk factors increase your chance of getting a disease and even though such factors do not play a direct role in developing appendicitis but are responsible in a way. Risk factors may not always contribute to the intensity of the disease but are related to the occurrence of the disease. Some of them are listed as follows:
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As mentioned earlier, people in the age groups between 10 and 30 years are more prone than others.
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Males are slightly at higher risk than females, according to the statistics.
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People more addicted to less fiber and simple carbohydrates (refine foods) diet are at higher risk than others who have a balanced diet.
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The position of the appendix, which is hereditary to an extent, also predisposes you at higher risk due to anatomical reasons.
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Seasonal changes: More cases are seen in the colder months, thus showing the role of seasonal variations in making symptoms more prominent.
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Bacterial, gastrointestinal infections, etc. in the stomach can increase your risk of developing appendicitis.
Symptoms of appendicitis
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The first and the foremost symptom is severe abdominal pain which is less localized and can even vary in intensity radiating from one region to other. Majority of people report pain at the central part of their abdomen. Inflammation and redness occur at the site of infection.
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A burning sensation is also felt by few at the site of infection.
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Elevated body temperature due to infection is one symptom.
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Nausea and vomiting can also occur due to the extreme pain and intestinal obstruction.
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Loss of appetite can result due to all the above uncomfortable symptoms.
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The pain experienced becomes more or less localized when the peritoneum gets infected, i.e. after the appendix rupture (peritonitis).
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Inflammation and redness spread to the entire lining of the stomach as the infection spreads.
Diagnosis for appendicitis
Doctors usually initiate diagnosis by asking questions pertaining to the patient’s symptoms, order in which they have appeared, nature of pain, etc. in order to know the medical history. High temperature and tenderness due to pain in the abdomen could be felt through physical examination.
Laboratory tests which are ordered to confirm appendicitis:
1. Urine analysis: To detect the presence of RBC, WBC, bacteria. Abnormal results can indicate a problem in the bladder or ureter rather than appendicitis either due to spreading of infection or other problems.
2. WBC count: Infection due to appendicitis can cause a rise in these counts but does not confirm the same as the count can increase in the case of other infections also.
3. X-ray of the abdomen/barium enema: It is done to see, if the opening of the appendix is blocked due to any deposits and to locate inflammation of the appendix or surrounding areas.
4. Imaging tests – CT scan/ultrasound: To confirm appendicitis and to rule out other conditions. Ultrasound can be useful to see, if the appendix in an enlarged form or not. The appendix is not visible in some cases, so other tests should be done for diagnosis.
5. Laparoscopy: It can be used to directly view the appendix and surrounding organs.
In some cases, the positioning of the appendix can vary and the presence of other inflammatory conditions can make diagnosis difficult. So, it is not possible to confirm appendicitis through a single test. A better approach is to perform clinically relevant tests, have knowledge about the medical history of the patient and put the patient under observation – for an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment for appendicitis
In most of the cases, surgery (appendectomy) remains the only option to avoid the risk of appendix rupture and infection spreading inside. Surgery can be either through laparoscopy (a minimal invasive technique) or the usual surgery method with a larger incision. In case of appendix rupture, prompt medical treatment in form of antibiotics and intravenous fluids are given to manage the situation. Cases in which the diagnosis is not confirmed, the doctor can still opt for appendectomy to avoid future problems.
Increased sensitivity of the appendix can also cause appendicitis – like recurrent symptoms especially if the appendix was slightly inflamed before. However, the gravity of the condition has to be properly evaluated by a specialist and necessary action taken at the earliest.
