Acute
appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. It
is one of the most common surgical emergencies seen.
It can occur at any age but is most common between the
ages of 10 and 30 years old.
What causes acute appendicitis?
An acute appendicitis is caused by
an obstruction of the lumen (cavity) of the appendix.
The commonest cause is a faecolith (a small piece of stool).
On rare occasions, it can be caused by a tumour or swelling
of the lymphoid tissue.
When obstructed, the pressure
inside the appendix rises and cuts off blood supply.
This leads to ulceration, bacterial infection and ultimately,
gangrene and perforation of the appendix.
Faecolith
obstructing the lumen.
Obstructed
appendix causes a build-up pressure.
Bacterial infection sets
in
What are the symptoms?
Classically, the pain begins as a cramp in the central
abdomen and over time, moves to the right side. Fever,
chills, shivering, loss of appetite, vomiting and sometimes
diarrhoea may follow.
However, patients below 5 years and above 50 years
may experience different symptoms from the above description.
This may pose problems in diagnosis.
How does your doctor diagnose
acute appendicitis?
Your doctor can diagnose for acute appendicitis by:
Taking a thorough clinical history
Conducting a careful clinical examination - checking
your abdomen for tenderness and tensing of the muscles
Performing regular reviews of your clinical condition
Studies across the world have shown that the most important
factor in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis lies in
the clinical evaluation of the patient.
What are the complications
of acute appendicitius?
Acute
appendicitis may result in rupture of the appendix with
subsequent abscess formation in the abdominal cavity
or peritonitis (infection of the abdominal cavity).
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Acute
appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. It
is one of the most common surgical emergencies seen.
It can occur at any age but is most common between the
ages of 10 and 30 years old.
Acute
appendicitis may result in rupture of the appendix with
subsequent abscess formation in the abdominal cavity
or peritonitis (infection of the abdominal cavity).
