Appendix Pain
Appendix Pain Symptoms
Appendix pain
The appendix is a worm-like small intestine tube (5-10 cm long and 0.5-1 cm
thick) attached to the cecum in the iliac fossa of the lower right abdomen. It
is almost no function in adult and is looked at as a dispensable organ, but many
of abdominal pains are attributed to an inflamed appendix, called appendicitis.
Appendix pain occurs frequently and involves about 6.8% of people
in Western countries at some time during their lives. Unbearable abdominal pain
often forces the persons affected to seek medical attention. Each year, about
200,000 appendix-resections are performed in United States for this reason of
appendix pain. Acute, severe appendix pain is an emergency and must be treated
as soon as possible.
Typically, appendix pain manifests itself as initial abdominal discomfort or mid-upper abdominal pain; and later lower right abdominal pain, tenderness, rebound or percussion tenderness. In this process, it is often followed by nausea, anorexia, and indigestion. Appendix pain is usually persistent and continuous but not severe, with occasional mild cramps. There may be an attack of vomiting. After four to twelve hours, the pain shifts to the right lower quadrant from mid-upper quadrant of the abdomen, becoming localized appendix pain and being magnified by moving, walking, coughing or laughing. The feeling of constipation may appear.
What does appendix pain feel like? In early stage, appendix pain feels like a vague mid abdominal discomfort with a slight tenderness. When the pain shifts to the area of appendix, it then manifests as right lower abdominal pain and feels like a slight dull pain, distending pain, or sharp pain. Basically, pain intensity represents the severity of appendicitis.
What causes appendix pain? Appendix pain is closely related to appendicitis, that is an inflammation of the appendix, and often aggravates appendix pain by pus accumulation, perforation, rupture, necrosis. These above-mentioned changes are all the appendicitis symptoms.
Where is appendix pain located? Typical appendix pain is so-called "migratory abdominal pain". This pain begins with mid upper abdomen or the region around the umbilicus; Within several hours (6~8 h), this abdominal pain gradually shifts to the right lower abdomen, and ultimately becomes localized lower right abdominal pain.
Acute or chronic appendix pain: According to the initial attack and duration, appendix pain can be classified into acute and chronic appendix pain. After an initial onset of appendix pain, if the appendix has not been completely removed, recurring lower right abdominal pain may long-term, intermittent occurs.
Appendix pain location
Location pf appendix pain is non-fixed and can point to any direction. In a
typical acute appendicitis, the appendix pain starts upper-mid abdomen or
around navel, and then shifts to the appendix point in the lower right abdomen
after several hours. Such changes are usually not seen in chronic appendicitis,
which only produces recurrent lower right abdominal pain in appendix point.
Appendicitis causes
Acute appendicitis, the sudden, sharp inflammation of the appendix of
the cecum, is formed at 60 percent of all patients by obstruction of the
connection to the cecum (proximal lumen of appendix). The following causes,
which leads to narrowing, obstruction, or closure of the appendix, often
trigger an acute appendicitis:
Acute appendicitis
Acute appendicitis is the most common inflammatory infectious disease of the
appendix, which inflames with rapid onset, short and sharp course and prominent
symptoms. In some cases, acute appendicitis can be serious or life-threatening.
By the way, appendicitis is not contagious, and will not be transmitted by any
means.
Acute appendicitis, symptoms, causes, types
Chronic appendicitis
Chronic appendicitis is a chronic inflammation of the appendix, marked by slow,
recurrent progress, long continuance, and fibrosis with a large number of
chronic inflammatory cells gathering in its intestinal wall. Other changes
may include adhesions, vascular congestion, fecalith, lymphoid hyperplasia,
periappendicitis, and infiltration by lymphocytes and plasma cells.
Chronic appendicitis, symptoms, causes, types
Appendicitis during pregnancy
It is common for appendicitis during pregnancy with the incidence rate of 1
to 30 per 1000 pregnant women. Pregnancy does not contribute to the occurrence
of appendicitis, but while pregnancy in women, the appendicitis shows so complex,
so not typical, that appendix perforation or rupture is more frequent.
more about Appendicitis during pregnancy
Appendicitis in children
Appendicitis occurs rarely in newborn infants. During this period, as
the funnel-shaped appendix, it is difficult to be blocked by follicular
hyperplasia and fecal stone. Fecal stone could not come in; Intestinal
lumen is a large space. These effectively prevent the high-risk factors
and reduce the incidence of the appendicitis.
more about Appendicitis in children
Appendicitis treatment
The treatment at any reasonable suspicion of acute appendicitis is the
removal of the inflamed appendix. Generally there are two methods available:
the operation through an abdominal incision or the so-called keyhole surgery.
See also
- Appendicitis symptoms
The first symptoms of acute appendicitis are mostly a vague abdominal discomfort, or persistent pain, but not severe, with intermittent cramps. - What is appendicitis
The inflammation of the appendix is also known as appendicitis, which is a common surgical disease, also one of the most main causes of the acute abdominal pain.
Recommended
- Appendix pain comes and goes
It is also very common that appendix pain comes and goes, no longer occurs, or recurs later. - Appendix pain symptoms
A typical appendix pain starts the mid-upper abdomen or around navel, described as a vague abdominal discomfort or dull pain. - Appendix pain causes
When you get an appendix pain, it almost always suggests that you have appendicitis. The causes and risk factors lead to appendicitis including.
Source: Appendixpain.org
Last update: 2012-05-12