Appendicitis: causes, symptoms and treatment

Causes of appendicitis

The causes of appendicitis can be traced back to various factors. It can also occur as a side effect of other diseases.
However, the most common cause of appendicitis is a blockage in the intestines. The exit of the large intestine can be blocked by kinks in the intestine, scars or faecal obstruction. In rare cases, foreign bodies, tumors or worm infestation can also be to blame for the intestinal obstruction.
But the result is the same: the bacteria in the accumulating stool inflame the appendix, also known as the appendix. The appendix attaches to the appendix in the lower right abdomen and forms the end of the large intestine. It is about the size of a little finger and has no function for digestion. It can therefore be removed in the event of an acute inflammation to protect the patient.
Appendicitis can also be an accompanying symptom of chronic bowel disease. Inflammation of the intestine in Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can extend to the appendix and the appendix. This also leads to acute appendicitis.
Bacterial infections are also a possible cause of inflammation of the appendix. Bacterial infections can affect different parts of the intestine, including the appendix.

Symptoms of appendicitis

Symptoms of appendicitis come on very suddenly and can get worse over a short period of time. Pain in the lower right abdomen, which can be accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, is characteristic. However, the course of the pain is very individual and also dependent on other circumstances, such as pregnancy or age.
In most cases, symptoms begin with pain in the upper abdomen or around the belly button. Many people confuse this abdominal pain with stomach problems. In addition to the pulling and stabbing pain, other symptoms soon appear.
Within a few hours, the pain migrates from the upper abdomen to the lower right abdomen, where it becomes increasingly severe. The abdominal wall over the inflammation then becomes so hard that the muscles contract with even the slightest touch. Especially when walking, those affected find it difficult to raise their right leg sufficiently, as the pain intensifies.
The body temperature of appendicitis patients rises up to 39 degrees. It is typical that the rectal measurement shows one degree more than the measurement in the armpit. However, it is difficult to diagnose appendicitis in children, pregnant women and the elderly.
Since children are more likely to have abdominal painand nausea, it is difficult to attribute the condition to appendicitis. In older people, on the other hand, the symptoms are less pronounced, so that they are not always recognized. Although the pain can be identified in pregnant women, localization is difficult here. Due to the pregnancy, the appendix is ​​pushed into the right upper abdomen. The typical pain of appendicitis cannot occur in this way. They are usually perceived in atypical places, such as the back.
With chronic appendicitis, the symptoms of appendicitis only appear for a short period of time and subside after a few hours.