Q: What is appendicitis, and what are the warnings of a problem?
A: Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a small pouch-like appendage attached to the colon that may have an important biological function as a reservoir for your gut bacteria. Appendicitis can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection in the digestive tract that leads to inflammation or by a hard mass of feces that blocks the appendix’s opening.
Symptoms of appendicitis can vary depending on the person. Some of the most common signs are abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, nausea and vomiting. Tenderness may begin around your belly button and migrate to the right lower third of your abdomen. Pain from appendicitis can worsen and intensify when moving, taking deep breaths, coughing or sneezing.
Appendicitis can occur at any age but tends to be common between ages 10 and 30.
A CT scan or an ultrasound can be an effective tool in diagnosing appendicitis. The traditional treatment for appendicitis is an appendectomy, a surgery to remove the appendix. It’s important to see your doctor if you’re concerned about having appendicitis. If not treated quickly and appropriately, it can become a life-threatening situation if the appendix ruptures and leads to an infection.
– Dr. Christina Parkhurst, CHI Memorial Surgical Associates; Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society member