The appendix is located in the lower right part of your abdomen, at the transition from the small intestine to the large intestine. You would think that with appendicitis your appendix is inflamed, but it’s the vermiform appendage that matters. A bit confusing, but with appendicitis, the so-called ‘appendix’ is inflamed.
Closed appendix
It is not exactly clear how appendicitis develops, but it is thought that the inflammation can be caused by the appendix being blocked, for example by a hard piece of stool. This blockage allows bacteria to multiply quickly. This causes the appendix to become irritated and swollen, eventually leading to appendicitis.
If you get an inflamed appendix, it can rupture and transfer dangerous bacteria to your abdomen. It is therefore important to sound the alarm on time.
A lot of pain
Many patients with acute appendicitis describe the pain as something they have never experienced before. It hurts so much that you know right away that something is not right. Nevertheless, we have listed the eight alarm signals in case of (acute) appendicitis:
- Severe, sudden abdominal pain that starts around the navel
- The pain descends to the right lower abdomen (usually after a few hours)
- Touching your belly hurts. The same goes for jerking movements. For example, during the car ride to the hospital, cause sharp shooting pains
- You also have a lot of pain when coughing and laughing
- Within hours, the pain gets progressively worse
- You can sometimes have a (slight) elevation (usually no higher than 39 degrees Celsius)
- The pain may be accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea, constipation and/or vomiting
- The intense complaints feel like something you’ve never experienced before
Treat on time
An inflamed appendix must be surgically removed. This is almost always done under anesthesia. Keyhole surgery usually involves making three small holes in the abdominal wall. The doctor can insert a camera through these holes and remove the appendix. When appendicitis is not treated in time, the appendix can perforate. This means that the inflammation breaks through, causing the intestinal contents to end up in the abdominal cavity. For example, a peritonitis can develop with a serious infection as a result.
So do you, your partner or your child suffer from the above symptoms? Don’t wait too long and ring the bell. In case of doubt, it is also better to consult a doctor.
Bron: Healthline, Stomach liver intestine foundation
