Appendicitis

Overview

Appendicitis is a relatively common condition and is estimated to occur in around 10% of the general population. The appendix resembles a smaller, thinner version of the pinky finger. It is located in the right lower abdomen attached to the beginning of the large bowel (cecum) and generally does not cause any problems. If the channel in that little tube get blocked by small stones or matter, bacteria can grow, causing an inflammation of the appendix.

Like infection anywhere in the body, appendicitis is generally associated with tenderness in the area, inflammation, fever, and an elevated white blood count. If treatment is delayed or if the condition quickly becomes severe, the appendix may perforate. As discussed in the section ulcer, contact between the sterile abdominal (peritoneal) cavity and the inside of the GI tract causes a very series problem, so timely treatment is important. The diagnosis must be made quickly, the patient must be placed on antibiotics, and the appendix must be removed.

Fortunately, the diagnosis is most often obvious from the clinical history and examination findings. In one third or less of patients, the diagnosis may be unclear. The problem is that there are many conditions that mimic appendicitis, including right-sided kidney stones, other inflammatory diseases of the bowel such as diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, and, in women, gynecological problems, such as endometriosis and ovarian cysts. Obviously, there are many other clinical clues that help in making the diagnosis, but more often than not, an imaging test can sort things out. There are several diagnostic tests available.

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