health

Appendicitis (ap-pen-di-SY-tis) is the inflammation of the appendix
(ap-PEN-dix), which is a small organ that branches off the large intestine.
The inflammation usually begins abruptly, causes a characteristic rightsided
abdominal pain, and may lead to rupture or bursting of the appendix,
and to severe illness.

Acute* appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed. An
inflamed appendix must be removed so that it does not rupture (break)
and spread the infection to the rest of the abdomen, a condition known
as peritonitis*. The appendix has no known function, and its removal has
no adverse effect on the body.
In most cases, acute appendicitis begins with an obstruction of the
appendix’s interior cavity, known as the lumen. The appendix is a narrow,
finger-shaped tube, usually three to six inches (7.6–15.2 cm) long, that
branches off the large intestine into the lower right side of the abdomen*.
It is also known as the vermiform appendix. Vermiform means wormshaped.
The appendix may become blocked for many reasons. Often,
feces obstructs the appendix, but in some cases, a bacterial or viral infection
may cause lymph nodes to swell—called lymphoid hyperplasia—and
obstruct the appendix. The blockage leads to inflammation. Appendicitis
is typically treated with an appendectomy (ap-pen-DEK-to-mee), which
is the surgical removal of the appendix. If appendicitis is left untreated, it
can be fatal, but it is rare for anyone not to receive treatment in time.
Some people experience off-and-on abdominal pain, a condition that
may be identified as chronic appendicitis. Often, the cause of the intermittent
pain is a prolonged, partial obstruction of the appendix. Some
patients are able to live with the recurrent bouts, but most only experience
full relief from symptoms following appendectomy.