appendicitis
Sign in to saveAppendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these typical symptoms. Severe complications of a ruptured appendix include widespread, painful inflammation of the inner lining of the abdominal wall and sepsis.
AI overview
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix that typically causes right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and loss of appetite, though about 40% of people experience atypical symptoms. It matters because if the appendix ruptures, it can lead to serious complications including widespread abdominal inflammation and sepsis.
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Key facts
- Medical condition (new).image
- Acute Appendicitis.jpg
- Medical condition (new).caption
- An acutely inflamed and enlarged appendix, sliced lengthwise.
- Medical condition (new).field
- General surgery
- Medical condition (new).synonyms
- Epityphlitis
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- Periumbilical or right lower abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, decreased appetite, high fever
- Medical condition (new).complications
- Abdominal inflammation, sepsis, Gastrointestinal bleeding, gastrointestinal abscess
- Medical condition (new).diagnosis
- Based on symptoms, medical imaging, blood tests
- Medical condition (new).differential
- Mesenteric adenitis, cholecystitis, psoas abscess, abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Medical condition (new).treatment
- Surgical removal of the appendix, antibiotics
- Medical condition (new).frequency
- 11.6 million (2015)
Article
27 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Causes
- Diagnosis
- Signs
- Laboratory tests
- Imaging
- Ultrasound
- Computed tomography
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- X-ray
- Scoring systems
- Pathology
- Differential diagnosis
- Management
- Pain
- Surgery
- Open appendectomy
- Laparoscopic appendectomy
- Laparoscopic-assisted transumbilical appendectomy
- Pre-surgery
- After surgery
- Prognosis
- History
- Epidemiology
- See also
- References
- External links
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these typical symptoms. Severe complications of a ruptured appendix include widespread, painful inflammation of the inner lining of the abdominal wall and sepsis.
Appendicitis is primarily caused by a blockage of the hollow portion in the appendix. This blockage typically results from a faecolith, a calcified "stone" made of feces. Some studies show a correlation between appendicoliths and disease severity. Other factors such as inflamed lymphoid tissue from a viral infection, intestinal parasites, gallstone, or tumors may also lead to this blockage. When the appendix becomes blocked, it experiences increased pressure, reduced blood flow, and bacterial growth, resulting in inflammation. This combination of factors causes tissue injury and, ultimately, tissue death. If this process is left untreated, it can lead to the appendix rupturing, which releases bacteria into the abdominal cavity, potentially leading to severe complications.