| Appendicitis is a very common type of internal | | | | symptoms, the clinical manifestations of the disease |
| disorder. The disease involves inflammation and | | | | are abdominal pain (at first in the umbilical region, later |
| infection of the vermiform appendix, a tube-shaped | | | | spreading to the right lower side of the abdomen), |
| extension of the cecum. Although the exact role of the | | | | nausea and vomiting. In children, appendicitis often |
| vermiform appendix inside the body hasn't been | | | | generates poor appetite, diarrhea or constipation, |
| clarified yet, it seems that this small organ may | | | | moderate to high fever and excessive sweating. |
| facilitate the process of digestion. However, the | | | | Apart from patients' reports of symptoms and careful |
| appendix is not a vital organ and the human body | | | | physical examinations, doctors need to perform |
| continues to function normally in its absence. The | | | | conclusive tests that can confirm the presence of |
| medical treatment of appendicitis commonly involves | | | | appendicitis. Common medical techniques used in the |
| removal of the diseased appendix from the body. If | | | | process of diagnosing appendicitis are ultrasound tests, |
| appendicitis is not discovered in time, the disease can | | | | computerized tomography and magnetic resonance |
| lead to serious complications such as perforation of | | | | imaging. However, in special cases, even these |
| the appendix and sepsis (spreading of the bacterial | | | | modern medical procedures can fail in revealing |
| infection inside the body). These complications are | | | | evidence of physiological abnormalities associated with |
| responsible for causing thousands of annual deaths | | | | appendicitis. |
| among appendicitis sufferers. | | | | Under special circumstances, doctors may also |
| Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of | | | | perform additional blood analyses in order to detect |
| abdominal discomfort and pain in children. Around 10 | | | | clear signs of bacterial infection. White blood cell count |
| percent of children that experience these symptoms | | | | can sometimes confirm presumptive diagnoses of |
| are eventually diagnosed with appendicitis. Appendicitis | | | | appendicitis, as high levels of white cells may suggest |
| is very common among adults as well and the disease | | | | a severe infection of the vermiform appendix. By |
| has the highest incidence in the male gender. | | | | analyzing the blood levels of C-reactive protein in |
| Diagnosing appendicitis can be very problematic for | | | | patients with suspected appendicitis, doctors are also |
| medical professionals. Appendicitis usually generates | | | | able to reveal complicated forms of the disease |
| non-characteristic symptoms, thus slowing down the | | | | (perforation of the appendix, abcess, sepsis). |
| process of diagnosis. In many cases, appendicitis may | | | | To correctly diagnose appendicitis in its incipient stages |
| progress latently, causing no outwardly visible | | | | is a very difficult task. Hence, many patients may have |
| symptoms. Asymptomatic appendicitis sufferers may | | | | already developed serious complications by the time |
| perceive the symptoms of the disorder long after they | | | | they are diagnosed with appendicitis. Despite medical |
| develop complications, thus having reduced chances of | | | | progress and the abundance of accumulated data |
| recovery. | | | | regarding appendicitis, the disease is still revealed late |
| When appendicitis is accompanied by perceivable | | | | or misdiagnosed in present. |