Learning about the topic before asking questions is recommended by experts. Taking this in the context, we’ll let you know “what is appendicitis” When our appendix is inflamed, such condition is called “appendicitis.”
In this condition, you feel enormous pain around your lower-right abdominal area. As time passes and infection enlarges, the pain gets worse.
Don’t worry if you’re poor at medical terms and don’t know much about the “appendix.” There is a little body at the bottom-right side of the large intestine in the human body, called the appendix.
Appendicitis usually occurs in people aged 10 to 30. It happens due to the appendix’s blockadeby human stool, parasites, or any physical trauma.
The process of happening appendicitis includes the blockade of the appendix’s openingby “calcified stone.” And inflamed “lymphoid tissue” from a viral infection can contribute to the blockade too. Due to the blockade, blood supply pressure is decreased, and the bacterial population increases, which causes the appendix inflammation.
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Symptoms
Generally, pain around the right bottom side of our body is considered the main symptom. However, other symptoms can also be alarming:
- Swollen tummy, Vomit & Nausea
- High temperature
- Difficulty in the excretion of gases and stool
- Loss of appetite
The abdominal pain in appendicitis starts from your belly button and then shifts to the lower right. In this infection, a few hours are enough to leave the person unable to do anything because of the pain.
It gets severe with deep breathing or when moving neck and coughing. This pain is literally intense and significantly different from other abdominal problems.
You may wake up because of this pain from sleep. However, in terms of faded and unclear symptoms, “ultrasound” or “CT scan” is done by medical professionals, but CT scan has shown more accurate results over the ultrasound method. If the diagnosed appendicitis has already been worse, then the appendix’s surgery is the only option left for the treatment.
What is the main cause of appendicitis?
The main cause of “appendicitis” is the blockade of the appendix opening, which can occur for several reasons. The blockade causes low blood pressure inside the appendix; hence the low quantity of “WBC” fails to fight off bacterial infection.
Mucus is stored inside the appendix, the swelling gets worse, and the continuous production of mucus puts pressure on the appendix walls. Due to these reasons, “thrombosis” and “occlusion” can occur in the small vessels of the appendix, and it also disturbs the “lymphatic flow.” This described situation occurs when there no natural recovery is possible.
After getting this much worse, the appendixbecomes “ischemic” and “necrotic.” Pus starts coming out of the appendix as its walls have become too weak to hold it, and finally, the appendix bursts, which causes “peritonitis.” If it continues to get worse like this, then death will be the ultimate end result.
Stress can also contribute to causing appendicitis, metabolism gets disturbed in stressful conditions, and it doesn’t do the digestion process properly. Disturbed metabolism in stress can leave the accumulative particles in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in blockage of the appendix.
People also want to know if diabetes can cause appendicitis. They should know that diabetes has no direct link in causing appendicitis. Although, diabetes can worsen the situation for appendix patient. In my personal opinion, a bad and unhealthy diet the main cause of appendicitis.
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Other causes
- “Bezoars,” masses found blocked in the gastrointestinal tract
- Foreign Body
- Worms found in intestine
- Lymphadenitis
- Calcified stone made up of stool
Calcified stone or “appendicitis” is now being more found in the coming era. Surprising is that this cause of appendicitis is generally found most in developed countries, rather than developing countries.
Diagnosis
There are different categories to diagnose appendicitis, typical and atypical methods. “Blood and urine test,” “Imaging,” and “Scoring systems” are some other methods for the diagnosis.
- Typical:
In the typical category, the main symptom for the diagnosis is “abdominal pain continued for several hours,” which usually starts from the umbilical area, and causes vomiting, Nausea, and “anorexia.” After this, stiffness and pain moves to the right bottom corner, with increasing pain. In the typical or classic category, pain, anorexia, fever, and leukocytosis make the list of diagnoses.
- Atypical:
Atypical or modern diagnosis doesn’t include this lengthy process, though the abdominal pain can be considered a symptom. Ultrasound images and CT scans make a list usually in the atypical category.
- Blood and urine test:
A blood test is done to measure the numbers of WBC (white blood cells), as appendicitis patients have a higher level of WBC. “CBC” or “complete blood count” test is done for WBC numbers. Though, there’s no absolute laboratory test for the diagnosis of appendicitis. It is not necessary to be appendicitis when WBC count is increased, because there are several other medical conditions in which the numbers are elevated.
- Imaging:
This method is usually applied when kids are in the scene. Before going for surgical treatment, Imaging is necessary to be very sure. Children are more prone to get side-effects of radiation, and due to this, ultrasound is the first step to take. CT scan comes second when ultrasound doesn’t work out, and safety is a priority.
CT scan is more accurate from ultrasound in adults, and hence an ultrasound is not done most in adults. For further information, a detailed description of these methods is followed:
1. Ultrasound contains “abdominal ultrasonography” with “Doppler sonography” is found suitable in terms of the children’s diagnosis. Ultrasound shows free fluid that is clogged around the appendix, and blood flow can be seen with the help of color Doppler. Mesenteric fat is stored around the appendix in appendicitis too, and this information is gathered with the help of sonographic technology.
However, the mesenteric fat is stored in large quantities in adults, so ultrasound technology doesn’t help out with adults being diagnosed. Perhaps, an experienced laboratory specialist can find a slight difference between the normal and abnormal conditions in adults.
2. CT scan or computed tomography has been in use for several diagnoses. It is usually used when ultrasound, physical, and classic methods couldn’t diagnose. The use of a CT scan is limited by the concerned authority due to the high radiation used in it, and these are quite dangerous for pregnant women and children.
3. MRI or Magnetic resonance imaging is used nowadays to diagnose appendicitis, as its low-intensity radiations don’t harm children and pregnant women. However, it’s risky to put a baby in an MRI. In pregnancy, the uterus of the mother gets large and displaces the appendix a little further, which becomes difficult to notice by CT scan or ultrasound, but MRI shows what is needed to be shown.
- Scoring Systems:
There have been many scoring systems introduced to diagnose those people who may have appendicitis. “Alvarado score” is a very famous scoring system in this system when the score is below 5, which indicates the absence of acute appendicitis.
However, when the score is between 5 and 7, then Imaging can only be helpful. If the score is above 7, then there is a possibility of acute appendicitis.
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Foods that cause appendicitis
Commonly, an FAQ is asked that “what food can cause appendicitis?” We would like to tell these people that there is no specific food that can cause appendicitis.
However, leafy vegetables often become a reason for kidney stones because their “oxalate” quantity gets stored in the kidney, hence causing calculi.
The same stands for appendicitis; the post metabolic process includes the excretion of waste material. However, the oxalate can accumulate around the appendix, causing a blockade of it, and eventually, appendicitis can happen.
There are some fruits whose seeds are stuck in our gastrointestinal tract; appendicitis can also be a result of this. These fruits include cocoa, oat, barley, grape, date, orange, melon, cumin, and nut.
How to prevent appendicitis?
With answering the question of what is the main cause of appendicitis, prevention should also be included. Prevention of appendicitis has very few chances to be done.
You may never know when you’re about to feel ill because of appendicitis. However, studies show that high sugar and low fiber containing diet can contribute to the happening of appendicitis.
So try to eat healthy foods, eat fresh fruits and meals with low sugar levels, avoid cold drinks and other sweet dishes too. Vegetables and fresh fruit have vitamins, minerals, and fibers, which plays a vital role in the healing process.
An appendix patient needs to place some fruits like broccoli, and don’t eat foods like canned broccoli soup. Watermelon is also one of the best fruits for appendix patient.
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Takeaway
Appendicitis is a condition in which the appendix is swelled and eventually bursts in the worst-case scenario. The main cause of appendicitis is the blockade of the opening of the appendix. Severe pain around the bottom right of the abdomen is generally considered appendix pain. Typical, atypical, Imaging, scoring, blood, and urine test are some of the methods for the diagnosis of appendicitis.
