Appendicitis:- symptoms, causes, treatment & prevention.

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AppendicitisSYMPTOMS CAUSES TREATMENT
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What is appendix ?

• The appendix is a small finger-shaped pouch on
  the right side of the abdomen, connected to the
  colon.
• Normally, the appendix sits in the lower right
  abdomen. The function of the appendix is unknown.
  One theory is that the appendix acts as a
  storehouse for good bacteria, rebooting the
  digestive system after diarrheal illnesses. Other
  experts believe the appendix is just a useless
  remnant from our evolutionary past.

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Introduction to Appendicitis

• Appendicitis is a condition where the appendix
  becomes swollen, inflamed, and filled with pus.
• Inflammation of the appendicitis
• No effective medical therapy, and is considered a
  medical emergency
• Patient recover without difficulty if treated
  promptly
• If treatment is delayed, it can burst, causing
  infection and even death
• Most common acute surgical emergency of the
  abdomen
• Anyone can get it, but occurs most often between
  ages 10-30

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Causes of appendicitis

• Relates to blockage of the inside of the
  appendix known as the lumen.
• Blockage leads to increased pressure , impaired
  blood flow and inflammation.
• If blockage is not treated ,gangrene and rupture
  (breaking or tearing) of the appendix could
  result.
• Bacterial or viral infections in the digestive
  tract which can lead to swelling of lymph nodes,
  which squeeze the appendix and cause obstruction
• Swelling known as lymphoid hyperplasia.

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Symptoms of appendicitis

• Pain in stomach while coughing and sneezing
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Inability to pass gas (break, wind, fart)
• Fever
• Constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Pain in appendix side in the stomach
• Not everyone with appendicitis will have all of
  the symptoms, especially children's, pregnant
  woman, and the elderly .

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Treatment of appendicitis

• Appendectomy, a surgical procedure to remove
  appendix, is the standard treatment for
  appendicitis once the infection sets in and the
  diagnosis is confirmed.
• The treatment of appendicitis is appendicectomy.
• Appendicectomy can be elective, emergency or
  interval.
• Two types of appendicectomy
• Conventional open appendicectomy
• Laparosopic appendicectomy

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Prevention of appendicitis

• There is no way to prevent appendicitis except
  regular preventive health checkups as that is the
  only way to catch hold and see how your internal
  organs and systems are working. Indus Health Plus
  has designed multiple preventive health checkup
  packages for all phases of your life.
• However, appendicitis is less seen in people who
  eat high fiber diet. Though the precise connect
  is not exactly known, but one possible reason can
  be that fibre makes the stool softer and hence
  reduces the chances of it getting stuck in the
  appendix.