Appendicitis is when indigestible food, delivered from the small intestine to the large intestine, flows into the appendix but gets blocked. This stops the appendix from performing the muscle contraction to keep this material flowing through the bowels. The inflammation, appendicitis, then causes acute pain, fever, nausea, vomiting and a loss of appetite, but fortunately the appendix easily removed.
Appendicitis can occur suddenly, and can easily wake you up at night. The pain will occur before other symptoms and begins near the belly button and moves lower and to the right. This area is known as the Lower Right Quadrant. It will feel like a new pain, and progressively worsen. It will hurt to move around, take deep breaths, cough or sneeze. Aside the earlier symptoms, you might also get constipation or diarrhoea, or be unable to pass gas. When going to the toilet you will notice that passing stool will relieve discomfort; this would indicate the pressure release from around the bowels.
The entrance to the appendix is called the appendiceal lumen. Mucus backs up in it, causing bacteria to multiply and make the appendix swell. Sources of obstruction can be faeces, parasites, growths, inflammatory bowel disease or general trauma to the abdomen, just to name a few.
An inflamed appendix will more likely than not burst. The pain from the swelling will be apparent, unless you have an extremely high pain threshold. The bursting then spreads this bacterial build up, as well as other unwanted materials, through the abdomen. This combination of all the bad stuff the body wanted to leave is, effectively, poison, and cab lead to a dangerous condition called peritonitis.
There are three types of Appendicitis: Grumbling Appendix (a minor infection), Appendicitis (major infection - removal necessary) and Peritonitis (ruptured appendix - severe).
In the event of such pain consult your GP/Family Doctor if suitable. If it is out of hours, or the pain is so severe you can't bear it, go to an A+E or E.R. For immediate assistance. Advanced diagnosis can result in quicker, easier treatment and better recovery.
Appendicitis can occur suddenly, and can easily wake you up at night. The pain will occur before other symptoms and begins near the belly button and moves lower and to the right. This area is known as the Lower Right Quadrant. It will feel like a new pain, and progressively worsen. It will hurt to move around, take deep breaths, cough or sneeze. Aside the earlier symptoms, you might also get constipation or diarrhoea, or be unable to pass gas. When going to the toilet you will notice that passing stool will relieve discomfort; this would indicate the pressure release from around the bowels.
The entrance to the appendix is called the appendiceal lumen. Mucus backs up in it, causing bacteria to multiply and make the appendix swell. Sources of obstruction can be faeces, parasites, growths, inflammatory bowel disease or general trauma to the abdomen, just to name a few.
An inflamed appendix will more likely than not burst. The pain from the swelling will be apparent, unless you have an extremely high pain threshold. The bursting then spreads this bacterial build up, as well as other unwanted materials, through the abdomen. This combination of all the bad stuff the body wanted to leave is, effectively, poison, and cab lead to a dangerous condition called peritonitis.
There are three types of Appendicitis: Grumbling Appendix (a minor infection), Appendicitis (major infection - removal necessary) and Peritonitis (ruptured appendix - severe).
In the event of such pain consult your GP/Family Doctor if suitable. If it is out of hours, or the pain is so severe you can't bear it, go to an A+E or E.R. For immediate assistance. Advanced diagnosis can result in quicker, easier treatment and better recovery.
