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What to Do When Appendicitis Strikes

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Appendix is a worm shaped organ attached to our colon. There is no known function for appendix in our body but it can cause great pain and discomfort if it is infected. When bacteria are present in the appendix, it will infect the walls. This incident is called appendicitis. Appendicitis is common to children, teenagers and young adults. If we let the infection triumph, our appendix will break thereby spreading the infection to the abdominal cavity causing peritonitis. Peritonitis is fatal if it is untreated.

We should be familiar with the symptoms of appendicitis so we will know the proper treatment. Symptoms include nausea, throwing up, lack of appetite, fever, constipation, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain and cramps in the right hip bone and navel. If we feel some or all of the symptoms, we should see our doctor directly.

Some Symptoms Of Appendicitis

Diagnosis

Doctors can identify appendicitis by conducting some tests like white blood cell count, abdominal X-ray, urinalysis, ultrasonography, laparoscopy and many others. But doctors can initially know by looking through our medical history and physical examination.

Treatment

If we have appendicitis, it is necessary to remove the inflamed appendix before it can break and spread the infection. We should get ready for surgery. The surgery is called appendectomy. There are two types of appendectomy to include open surgery and laparoscopic appendectomy.

Open surgery is done if the infection had spread through the abdominal cavity. Surgeons will incise about 4 inches long in the abdomen which will allow them to clean the abdominal cavity. Some people prefer laparoscopic appendectomy. This surgery will only involve few incisions where the surgeons put in special tools and video camera into the abdomen to remove the appendix.

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