Dr. Samadi:
Stomach viruses, constipation, diarrhea are considered familiar issues some people deal with daily.
However, most likely very few of us ever give our appendix much
thought. Hidden away deep inside and attached to the cecum (the first
part of the colon), this 3 ½-inch closed-ended, narrow, worm-like tube
doesn't even appear to have a purpose.
It has never been determined what exactly its function or role is in
the body. One theory is that our early ancestors needed the appendix to
digest tough food. Another theory is that because it does contain some
immune tissue, that maybe it has a role in protecting the colon from
bacterial invaders wanting to cause harm.
But for whatever reason, when it decides to make itself known by
rearing its head resulting in appendicitis, watch out. Appendicitis is
an infection where bacteria have invaded the appendix causing
inflammation along with pus resulting in severe abdominal pain.
About 5% of the U.S. population eventually ends up with this condition.
Anyone of any age can be affected by appendicitis but teens and young
adults appear to be the victims of it the most. Women also tend to have
higher rates of appendicitis than men.
Symptoms of appendicitis
The most common signs and symptoms of appendicitis are:
Severe abdominal pain and tenderness usually starting in the middle of
the abdomen and then moving to the lower right-hand side of the abdomen
where the appendix resides
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Frequent passing of urine
- Causes of appendicitis
In most cases of appendicitis, it is generally not known what causes
it. It could be due to a blockage occurring along the appendix or hard
stools that are obstructing the appendix. If a blockage occurs,
bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites may thrive inside it causing
infection and inflammation inside the appendix.
Diagnosing appendicitis
If a person has the typical symptoms of appendicitis, a doctor should
be able to diagnosis it easily. But some people don't always have the
typical symptoms as there are many other medical conditions it could be
mistaken for such as pelvic inflammatory disease, cystitis, passing a
kidney stone, or colitis.
Blood and urine tests are conducted to get a more definitive diagnosis
along with imaging tests using a CT scan can help determine the cause of
the symptoms. A blood test will often show a high white blood cell
count.
Treating appendicitis
Most of the time, the treatment is surgery (appendectomy) to remove the
appendix. Removal of the appendix does not appear to have any long-term
health consequences. Surgery is used to avoid the possible complication
of the appendix rupturing releasing bacteria into the abdomen
potentially leading to other life-threatening infections.
Appendicitis is considered a medical emergency with the appendix typically being removed within 24 hours after being diagnosed.
Most people will make a complete recovery after surgery as long as the
appendix did not rupture beforehand. Recovery from an appendectomy is
usually fairly fast as most people can expect to leave the hospital
within 1 to 2 days after surgery. A full recovery from an appendectomy
will take a few weeks with the doctor prescribing medications for pain.
It is recommended not to lift heave objects or participate in strenuous activity for several days after the procedure.
Is it possible to prevent appendicitis?
While there is no way to prevent appendicitis, however, it tends to be
less common in people who consume a diet rich in plenty of high fiber
foods such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains.
Dr. Samadi is a board-certified urologic oncologist trained in open
and traditional and laparoscopic surgery and is an expert in robotic
prostate surgery. He is chairman of urology, chief of robotic surgery at
Lenox Hill Hospital. He is a medical contributor for the Fox News
Channel's Medical A-Team. Follow Dr. Samadi on Twitter, Instagram,
Pintrest, SamadiMD.com, davidsamadiwiki, davidsamadibio and Facebook.
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