Appendicitis

The appendix is a small structure that is attached to the large intestine and serves an unknown purpose. It can easily become inflamed, usually after a piece of stool or food is trapped inside. Once inflamed, the appendix will swell, become infected and cause pain.

The symptoms of appendicitis usually include:

Pain in the right side of the abdomen

Nausea

Vomiting

Constipation

Diarrhea

Inability to pass gas

Low fever that begins after other symptoms

Abdominal swelling

Anorexia (loss of appetite)

Who gets appendicitis?

Appendicitis is most common in older children and young adults and mainly affect people between the ages of 10 and 30.

Although the incidence of appendicitis is low for children under age 5 years, it begins rising in school age children and reaches its peak during the teen years.

Remember that you can get appendicitis at almost any age though.

Tests for Appendicitis

Routine tests usually include a white blood cell count and a urinalysis.

In children with classic symptoms, that may be all the testing that is necessary before the child goes to surgery to have the appendix removed (appendectomy).

If the doctor is still unsure if a child has appendicitis or not, further tests might include either an ultrasound or an abdominal CT scan.

Treatments for Appendicitis

The initial management or treatment for a child with appendicitis, along with consulting a surgeon, usually includes making sure that the child doesn't have anything to eat or drink (NPO), starting intravenous fluid and antibiotics.

The definitive treatment is a laparoscopic or open appendectomy, in which the inflammed appendix is removed.