Is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. Also called epityphlitis.
A small projection off the large intestine; an acute and highly dangerous disorder that can occur at any age but is most common among children (though not infants) and young adults, especially males. Appendicitis has various causes, including obstruction by hardened feces or an undigested foreign body and infestation by parasites, leading to inflammation and infection. Early symptoms include generalized, sometimes intermittent pain around the mid-abdomen, gradually localizing in the lower right quarter of the abdomen; nausea and vomiting; low-grade fever; increased white blood count; and decreased bowel activity and constipation. Because these symptoms can be found with other disorders, appendicitis is not easy to diagnose. However, a child with some of these symptoms should be examined by a doctor immediately. If appendicitis is diagnosed, emergency surgery— an appendectomy (removal of the appendix)—is indicated. If treatment is delayed, the appendix will generally rupture, at first causing cessation of pain but quickly spreading infection to the abdominal (peritoneal) cavity. The result is peritonitis, a life-threatening infection that, however, is now often treatable if caught early.
Inflammation of the vermiform appendix. Symptoms are pain in the abdomen, generally but not exclusively on the right side, nausea, vomiting, low- grade fever, and elevated white blood cell counts. Treatment is appendectomy.
Inflammation of the vermiform appendix, a small appendage of the large intestine in the right lower abdomen; inflammation may be acute or chronic.
Acute inflammation of the appendix (a small finger-shaped pouch that branches off from the large intestine in the lower right part of the abdomen). The appendix can become inflamed and fill with pus when a small piece of stool or debris blocks its opening. To avoid serious complications, an appendectomy (surgical removal of the appendix) is usually required.
Inflammation of the vermiform appendix. Acute appendicitis, which has become common this century, usually affects young people. The chief symptom is abdominal pain, first central and later (with tenderness) in the right lower abdomen, over the appendix. Unusual positions of the appendix may cause pain in different sites, leading to difficulty in diagnosis. Vomiting and diarrhea sometimes occur, but fever is slight. If not treated by surgical removal (appendectomy) the condition usually progresses to cause an abscess or generalized peritonitis. Conditions that mimic appendicitis include mesenteric lymphadenitis, acute ileitis, pyelonephritis, and ovarian disease. Chronic appendicitis was a popular diagnosis 20-50 years ago to explain recurrent pains in the lower abdomen. It is rare, and appendectomy will not usually cure such pains.
This is an inflammatory condition of the appendix, and is a common surgical emergency, affecting mainly adolescents and young adults. It is usually due to a combination of obstruction and infection of the appendix, and has a variable clinical course ranging from episodes of mild self-limiting abdominal pain to life-threatening illness. Abdominal pain, beginning in the centre of the abdomen but which later shifts position to the right iliac fossa, is the classic symptom. The patient usually has accompanying fever and sometimes nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, or even constipation. The precise symptoms vary with the exact location of the appendix within the abdomen. In some individuals the appendix may ‘grumble’ with repeated mild attacks which resolve spontaneously. In an acute attack, the inflammatory process begins first in the wall of the appendix but, if the disease progresses, the appendix can become secondarily infected and pus may form within it. The blood supply may become compromised and the wall become gangrenous. Eventually the appendix may rupture, giving rise to a localized abscess in the abdomen or, more rarely, free pus within the abdomen, which causes generalized peritonitis. Rupture of the appendix is a serious complication and the patient may be severely unwell. Surgeons recognize that in order to make sure patients with appendicitis do not progress to peritonitis, a certain percentage of normal appendixes are removed when clinical signs are suspicious but not diagnostic of disease.
Inflammation of the vermiform appendix, caused by blockage of the lumen of the appendix followed by infection. It may be acute, subacute, or chronic and occasionally is difficult to diagnose (because many other illnesses may cause acute abdominal pain).
A medical condition distinguished by the swift onset of inflammation in the appendix, an anatomical component of the intestinal tract.
Acute inflammation of the appendix, a slender and finger-like tube that extends from the large intestine, represents a frequent source of abdominal pain and can lead to peritonitis, the inflammation of the abdominal cavity’s lining.
Appendicitis often arises without a clear cause, although at times, it occurs due to a blockage of the appendix caused by a mass of fecal matter. When this happens, the sealed end of the appendix located beyond the obstruction becomes inflamed, enlarged, and infected. Consequently, there is a risk of developing gangrene, which refers to the death of tissue in the appendix wall, and in severe cases, the appendix may even rupture.
Typically, the initial indication of appendicitis is a vague discomfort felt around the navel region. Within a few hours, this discomfort progresses into intense and localized pain, often concentrated in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. It’s important to note that symptoms can vary if the appendix is not located in its usual position. For instance, when the appendix presses against the ureter, it may result in bloodstained urine, presenting a different set of symptoms.
Diagnosing appendicitis can be challenging as its symptoms often mimic those of various other abdominal conditions. In certain cases, a laparotomy, which involves surgically examining the abdomen, becomes necessary to definitively confirm or rule out an appendicitis diagnosis.
The typical approach to treating appendicitis involves performing an appendicectomy, which is frequently carried out using endoscopic techniques.
In cases where treatment is delayed, an inflamed appendix can rupture, releasing its contents into the abdominal cavity. This sudden rupture brings about an abrupt cessation of pain, but it also leads to a condition called peritonitis. Occasionally, the inflamed appendix gets enveloped by the Omentum, a fold of peritoneum that covers the intestines. While this prevents the infection from spreading, it can give rise to a localized abscess forming around the appendix.
Inflammation of the appendix, which can occur in either acute or chronic forms.