Articles Gallery

Appendicitis is an infection and inflammation of the appendix. Many intestinal infections are easily confused with appendicitis. Symptoms of the two are similar, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever.

Swelling of an infected appendix may close its upper end where it joins the caecum, and trap the infected content. When this happens, the appendix may greatly enlarge. Pressure may cause it to burst and spread its infected content onto the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum (pehr-i-tuh-nee-um). These results in a more dangerous condition called peritonitis. Before we had sulfa drugs and antibiotics, peritonitis was a leading cause of death. It is still a dangerous infection, but modern drugs have reduced the mortality from it greatly.

Appendicitis is often hard to diagnose. The pain is usually in the lower right region of the abdomen, but it may occur in any part of the abdomen or even in the back or shoulder. If you have any sever pain in the abdomen, together with vomiting, and fever, you should remain quiet and call the doctor at once. Do not take a laxative. This can cause an inflamed appendix to burst. Surgical removal of a diseased appendix is usually a simple operation.