Do you know what your appendix does? I don’t. Most experts aren’t absolutely certain about what this tiny tube of tissue does.
What is it? The appendix is a three and a half inch long tube of tissue that extends from the large intestine.
An inflammation of the appendix — also known as appendicitis — is a serious medical emergency! Left untreated, an inflamed appendix will eventually burst. The perforation of the tissue allows infectious materials to enter the abdominal cavity, causing peritonitis, an inflammation of the abdominal cavity lining that can be fatal.
An abscessed appendix is a serious but less urgent situation. An abscess (an infection that is walled off from the rest of the body) can form outside an inflamed appendix. Scar tissue forms to isolate the appendix from the rest of the abdomen, which prevents the infection from spreading. The difference between an abscessed appendix and a true case of appendicitis can’t be identified without surgery, so all cases are treated as emergencies.
What causes appendicitis? When the appendix becomes blocked — by a foreign body, cancer, or stool — appendicitis follows. An infection can also cause blockage, as the appendix tends to swell in response to any infection in the body.
Appendicitis can be difficult to diagnose. Symptoms of appendix problems may be vague or similar to other ailments, like gallbladder problems, a urinary tract infection, gastritis, Crohn’s disease, and ovary problems. Your doctor (or the emergency room staff) may use tests like an abdominal exam, a urine test, a rectal exam, a blood test, a CT scan, and/or an ultrasound to determine if your appendix is the problem.
Appendicitis is relatively common; in the United States, approximately one out of fifteen people will get appendicitis. Your appendix can become a problem at any age, but appendicitis is most often seen in people between the ages of ten and thirty. It is very rare under the age of two.