Appendix or Appendicitis Symptoms
What is your appendix and what is appendicitis?
Your appendix is a finger-like projection at the start of your large intestine and resides in the lower right side of your abdomen. It has no real function as far as digestion goes. Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix.
Appendix or appendicitis symptoms
- pain in the abdominal area usually beginning in the navel area and radiating to the lower right side of the body.
- fever
- nausea and vomiting - usually only after the pain is felt - distinguishing appendicitis from gastroenteritis.
- diarrhoea (in some patients), constipation in others.
- increased frequency of urination or increased urge to urinate.
If you or your child experiences the above symptoms, it is best to visit your doctor as appendicitis if left untreated can potentially be life threatening if the infected appendix bursts and results in peritonitis.
Predisposing factors in getting appendicitis
- age - the highest incidence of appendicitis occurs in the age group 11-20
- low dietary fiber intake is thought to predispose people to getting appendicitis symptoms but this has not been proven. Although it is noted that people who have a high fiber diet have a lower incidence of appendix problems.
- children with cystic fibrosis seem more prone to getting appendicitis
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Appendix or appendicitis symptoms