Appendicitis
Situated at the junction of the large intestine (the colon) and of the small intestine, in the lower right part of the abdomen, the appendix is a tubular structure attached to the colon.
The festering of the appendix, appendicitis, represents a medical emergency, because of the fact that there is no particular therapy. But in case it is discovered and dealt with in time, recovery is in most of the cases, imminent. The danger appears in case of a delay, that might cause the bursting of the appendix, producing a festering that can even be lethal. Among the surgery interventions in the abdominal portion, appendicitis is the most frequent, affecting people no matter their age, although it is more frequent between 10 and 30 years.
Important aspects to memorize, regarding Appendicitis:
- Appendicitis represents an inflammation of that small, tubular structure situated as an attachment to the large intestine, called appendix.
- Surgery is necessary, in order to cure acute appendicitis, by the removal of the appendix.
- To diagnose this medical problem, a series of tests made in laboratory, together with imaging tests and accurate physical exams.
- From the medical point of view, the inflammation of the appendix represents an emergency
- Appendicitis may be recognized by a series of symptoms: abdominal pain, a significant decrease of appetite, nausea, vomiting and contradictory stages (diarrhoea, constipation),traces of fever, incapacity to release gas, a sensation of swelling at the abdomen's level, but it is not compulsory for every patient to gather all these symptoms.
- The following stages, peritonitis or abscess, appear as consequences to rupture, and are provoked by complications of undiscovered and untreated appendicitis.