Everything you need to know about appendicitis

Males are more likely than females to experience appendicitis, and this male tendency is greater in infants and young children than in school-aged children.

The problem of appendicitis occurs due to a blockage or infection that can become very painful if not intervened on time. Bacteria can multiply inside the appendix if it becomes blocked, leading to the formation of pus and swelling. It can lead to painful pressure in the abdomen and is most prevalent among children and teenagers.

After the operation to cut out the appendix Pulse

Five to nine individuals of every 100 people get appendicitis at some point in their lives.

Types of appendicitis

Based on the severity of the inflammation, appendicitis can broadly be divided into two broad categories.

Acute Appendicitis

It refers to a severe and sudden case of appendicitis that requires immediate medical attention. If the appendix bursts and the bacteria spills outside the appendix, it can lead to death.

Chronic Appendicitis

The cases of this type of appendicitis are comparatively less and the symptoms are mild yet progressive. This type of appendicitis is hard to diagnose as the symptoms may disappear before reappearing again over different time spans.

What Causes Appendicitis?

Although the exact cause of appendicitis is still unknown, experts believe that it develops when part of the appendix becomes obstructed or blocked. This condition is most common in males as compared to females. Other major factors that can lead to this condition include:

Intestinal worms: Parasites obstruct the lumen without causing acute inflammation or by inducing an inflammatory response
Traumatic physical injury: Intestinal injury and hollow viscus injury following blunt abdominal trauma can also trigger appendicitis
Hardened stool build-up: The stool hardens and becomes rock-like blocking the opening
Enlarged lymphoid follicles: The thickening of the hypoechoic lamina propria due to enlarged lymphoid follicles can also be a trigger
Tumours: The appendix can be the site of benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous) growths
Digestive tract infection: Appendicitis can be caused by infections in the digestive tract such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites
Inflammatory bowel disease: IBD increases the risk of infections which can lead to appendicitis

What to do when you have appendicitis

See a doctor. In majority of the cases, the appendix needs to be removed. However, in certain rare cases, mild appendicitis may get better with antibiotics alone. Based on the type and severity of appendicitis, doctors may recommend treatment options that majorly involve antibiotics followed by surgery to remove your appendix. This is known as an appendectomy.