Appendicitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the appendix. It’s a serious health complication that’s potentially life-threatening. Understanding this condition and symptoms can help you know when to visit a physician, who may schedule general surgery to remove your appendix. To help you stay safe and healthy, here is more information about appendicitis and how to identify it.

Your Guide to Appendicitis

Symptoms

The cause of appendicitis is unknown, though it’s assumed to relate to blockages. This can be due to a buildup of hardened stool, intestinal worms, or trauma to the abdomen.

When the appendix becomes inflamed, a person often feels sharp pain above the navel or in the lower right side of the abdomen. It can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. If the appendix bursts, harmful bacteria will spill into the abdominal cavity, which can create potentially fatal complications. Should you experience these symptoms, schedule an exam right away to ensure you don’t need general surgery. 

Treatment

To determine whether you have appendicitis, a surgeon will draw your blood to look for signs of bacterial infection. They can also use a urinary test to rule out other potential issues like kidney stones. Abdominal imaging, including CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds are also effective.

Depending on the severity of your case, your doctor may recommend general surgery to remove the appendix to prevent it from bursting. Otherwise, antibiotics and IV fluids can be used to resolve the infection. Since it puts you at risk for death, appendicitis is considered a medical emergency, so schedule an exam right away.

Ozark Surgical Group addresses health care complications at their Mountain Home, AR, practice. Their skilled team focuses on patient comfort and effective general surgery and is dedicated to continued training and education to offer the best treatments available. Explore their wide scope of surgical procedures on their website, connect on Facebook to follow updates, and call (870) 425-9120 to schedule an exam.