Appendicitis

It is said to be the disease of civilization. Before we discuss about the disease called appendicitis, lets discuss what is appendix and what is its role in appendicitis.

Whatever food we eat, it passes from the stomach through a long tube (the intestine) which lies coiled inside the abdomen. At one point, there is a small side branch which comes to a blind end and this very branch is called appendix.

Appendicitis is the inflammation of this appendix (infact, all medical terms ending in "-itis" mean inflammation, e.g. cystitis, etc). What happens, the partly-digested food may sometimes enter the appendix and as the intestines always have ger ms in them, irritation and infection in the appendix may result. This may also result in the swelling of the appendix. This is appendicitis and it has been developed and if not treated in time, it may result into the bursting of the appendix and spread the infection over the whole of the inside of the abdomen. And this infection entering into the abdomen is called peritonitis which is a grave condition.

Symptoms of Appendicitis

1. aching pain in the centre of the abdomen around the navel
2. sickness
3. a little diarrhoea
4. constipation (more common symptom)
5. fever
6. after a while, the pain moves down to the right side, and becomes more severe

In such a situation, the patient should be put to bed and a doctor called, and if diagnosed with appendicitis, then the appendix will have to be removed. And remember to call the doctor as soon as possible, before the appendix bursts and spreads the infection.

WARNING:

In case of a stomach ache, especially if your child has it, never give him any laxative without doctor's prescription.

If it is appendicitis, then the violent action of the bowels causes by the aperient may cause the appendix to burst, with fatal results.

And if there is no fever, and only constipation is there, then a glycerine supposition may be safely given.