Appendicitis is a painful swelling of the appendix. The appendix is a small, thin pouch connected to the large intestine, where poo forms.
What Causes Appendicitis
pain in the middle of your tummy (abdomen) that may come and go then travels to the lower right-hand side, where the appendix usually lies, and becomes constant and severe.
Pressing on this area, coughing or walking may make the pain worse.
It’s not clear what causes appendicitis. In many cases it may be that something blocks the entrance of the appendix, it could become blocked by a small piece of poo.
If the obstruction causes inflammation and swelling, it could lead to increased pressure within the appendix, which may then burst.
As the causes of appendicitis are not fully understood, there’s no guaranteed way of preventing it.
You can get appendicitis at any age, but it usually affects young people aged between 10 and 20 years.
How is it treated ?
If you have appendicitis, it’s likely your appendix will need to be removed as soon as possible.
Removal of the appendix, known as an appendicectomy or appendectomy.
It’s most commonly carried out as keyhole surgery (laparoscopy).
It usually takes a couple of weeks to make a full recovery after your appendix has been removed.