Appendicitis is a condition that occurs when the appendix, a small touch attached to the large intestines, becomes inflamed. When blocked, the first sign you experience is abdominal pains, which start near the belly button, and in a few hours, the pain spreads to the lower right abdomen and escalates when you cough, move, or even take deep breaths.
Typically, it’s a medical condition that may result in the removal of the appendix if left untreated. Appendicitis mostly occurs in the teenage years and the 20s, but it can start at any age. Besides abdominal pains, there are other appendicitis symptoms. Due to its prevalence, it is helpful to learn the signs and symptoms to help you get the care you need in case you develop the condition. Here, we will discuss the most common symptoms of appendicitis. Keep reading!
Some Important Appendicitis Symptoms
There are many signs of appendicitis, with pain being the most common symptom. As said, you will start feeling pain at the lower part of the belly button, which comes and goes for a while. It will become more severe with time and more constant.
Below are the major appendicitis symptoms;
1. Abdominal pain
This is the first and most common symptom of appendicitis. The pain occurs near the belly button, which then moves to the appendix location at the lower right abdomen. Normally, the abdominal pain starts as a dull ache, which then gradually becomes more intense in the next few days. Some people will feel pain that comes suddenly and only occurs in the appendix location. The pain intensifies when you cough or walk.
2. Feeling Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea or vomiting is also a common appendicitis symptom. Appendicitis causes changes in the immune system, which triggers reflexes of nausea and vomiting. Those with appendicitis may feel nauseous or need to vomit. In general, these signs come immediately after experiencing abdominal pains.
For most people, nausea and vomiting aren’t severe and usually go away quickly. You may experience intense pain in the appendix after the nausea passes.
3. Lack of Appetite
Once your appendix is inflamed, the body releases a rare type of protein known as cytokines. The immune system produces these proteins to fight the inflammation. Though cytokines are a crucial part of the immune response, they may lead to loss of appetite. The pain may also make you unwell and unable to eat.
4. Problems with the bowel
When the appendix swells, it can affect the normal operation of the digestive system. As such, you may experience problems in the bowel where the gas fails to pass properly, the stomach becomes swollen, and a feeling of diarrhea and constipation. In worst cases, the stool may not pass completely. If the signs are gradual, you may feel a bloated stomach and indigestion problems before the intense abdominal pains.
5. Swollen belly
As one of the signs of appendicitis, you may also experience a swollen belly. You may feel your abdomen bloated, or it may look distended. This happens when the inside part of the appendix is filled with mucus, parasites, or stool, making it swell.
6. Urinary problems
Once the appendix gets inflamed, the nearby parts, like the ureter or bladder, may get irritated, which will then lead to urinary problems. You will feel like you need to pee often or urgently since the nerves connected to the bladder are irritated.
7. Mild fever
As one of the common signs associated with appendicitis, you may experience a mild fever since the body is responding to the infections and inflammation in the appendix. Apart from fever, you may also have chills. Fever will occur together with signs like nausea, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite. When the appendix ruptures, the infection will cause the fever to rise.
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Causes of Appendicitis
- Appendicitis can be caused by several infections like bacteria, parasites, or viruses in the digestive tract.
- It can also be due to the blockage of the tube that connects the large intestine and appendix by stool.
- At times, tumors could be the culprit.
- Some individuals could have a genetic predisposition to appendicitis causes since the condition could be running in families.
The appendix will become swollen, and when it gets worse, the blood supply will eventually stop. This can result in the bursting of the appendix or the development of holes in its walls, which lets the stool and infection seep through and get to the belly. This can result in peritonitis, a very serious infection.
Appendicitis Treatment
Appendicitis condition is considered an emergency. So, when diagnosed with it, the standard treatments are medication and surgery.
Your doctor will prescribe some antibiotics because the condition will obviously lead to an infection. Antibiotics are normally the first option before going further into surgery. In case of mild symptoms, the doctor may wait as they closely monitor the condition to see if it improves with the antibiotics. Many people prefer this approach since it doesn’t come with risks, and it’s safer.
On the other hand, your doctor can advise you to undergo surgery once diagnosed with appendicitis. The inflamed appendix will be removed through an operation.
Summary
That’s all about appendicitis symptoms, causes as well as appendicitis treatments. Among the many symptoms, abdominal pain is the first sign you may experience. In addition, loss of appetite, fever, and vomiting are also other signs of appendicitis. Identifying these signs early and getting the needed medical care sooner is key.
