APPENDICITIS DESCRIPTION

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a blind ending tube attached to the part of the bowel called the caecum.

The appendix is located on the right side of the body in the lower part of the abdomen. Although it does not seem to perform any particular function in the body, inflammation of the appendix, usually caused by a blockage of impacted stool, must be treated medically. Left untreated, the inflamed appendix can become gangrenous and perforate causing peritonitis (a serious inflammation of the abdomen), causing the whole abdomen to become rigid. An operation to remove the infected appendix is called an appendectomy and is probably one of the most common operations performed as an emergency.

Appendicitis is most common in younger people particularly between the ages of 8 and 14 years. It is not to be confused with a 'grumbling' appendix, which refers to recurrent bouts of pain in the right lower abdomen. In only a few cases is it actually due to a problem with the appendix.