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Appendicitis |
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Appendicitis (commonly mispelled as Apendicitis) is a medical condition, in which appendix is inflamed. The cause of appendicitis is not fully understood. In many cases a blockage inside the appendix possibly starts a process, in which the appendix seems to be infected and inflamed. If inflammation continues without treatment, the appendix may rupture and spill bacteria-laden intestinal contents into the abdomen, leading to peritonitis, which can cause a life-threatening infection. The symptoms of appendicitis may include vomiting, nausea, and sharp pain in the lower right abdomen. Pain usually starts suddenly in the upper abdomen or around the navel, after that vomiting and nausea develops. After a several hours, the nausea is gone and the pain shifts to the right lower part of the abdomen. When the physician presses of this portion, it is tender, and when the pressure is released, the pain can increase significantly (a symptom called rebound tenderness). In case of appendix
rupture, fever and pain can become severe. Worsening infection may cause shock. Appendicitis is diagnosed by performing x-ray, ultrasound, and computed tomography (CT). Blood tests show a significant increase of white blood cell count in response to the infection, but in most cases the physician diagnoses appendicitis by physical examination findings. To prevent a rupture of the appendix, abscess appearing, or inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity (called peritonitis), a surgeon makes surgery immediately. The chance of death from appendicitis is very low, if treated in early stages. In the rupture appendix case, the prognosis is very serious.
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| Category |
Disease Conditions > A
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| Related Searches |
appendicitis symptoms, signs of appendicitis, acute appendicitis |
| Date Submitted |
15-Oct-2005
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