Points to Remember About Appendicitis
- The appendix is a small, tube-like structure attached to the first part of the colon. Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix.
- Appendicitis is considered a medical emergency.
- Symptoms of appendicitis include pain in the abdomen, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, inability to pass gas, low-grade fever, and abdominal swelling. Not everyone with appendicitis has all the symptoms.
- Physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging tests are used to diagnose appendicitis.
- Acute appendicitis is treated by surgery to remove the appendix.
- The most serious complication of appendicitis is rupture, which can lead to peritonitis and abscess.
