We imagine that it is children who are mainly affected by appendicitis, but adults are not spared.
It is estimated that one in ten people will have one in their lifetime.
Doctor Vincent Valinducq explains its origins and symptoms to us.
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Appendicitis is the inflammation and infection of the appendix. It is characterized by abdominal pain, nausea and fever. We often imagine that this pathology only concerns children and spares adults. In reality, appendicitis can affect anyone. The explanations of Doctor Vincent Valinducq in Hello! The Morning TF1 (new window).
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An infection that does not only concern children and adolescents
It is estimated that one in ten people will develop appendicitis at some point in their life. Most often, this infection occurs in childhood, during adolescence and early adulthood, however, it can be observed at any age. Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is ”a thimble-like extension of the large intestine located near the point where it joins to the small intestine“, recalls MSD Manual. If it has certain immunological functions, “it is not considered a major organ“. The appendix can become obstructed by fecal matter, a foreign body, or even be compressed by a tumor or lymph nodes. This obstruction will encourage an increase in the number of bacteria and can cause inflammation and infection of the appendix. appendix. If left untreated, the organ may perforate.Rupture of the appendix can lead to the formation of a pocket of infection filled with pus. As a result, peritonitis may develop“, warns the MSD Manual.
How to differentiate appendicitis from a simple stomach ache?
Typically, in children and adolescents, appendicitis is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, to the right or around the navel, nausea, vomiting, fever and loss of appetite. Furthermore, the pain increases when walking, because the inflamed appendix tends to irritate the muscles around it. In adults, symptoms are less obvious. “In older people and pregnant women, the pain may be less intense and the abdomen is less painful on palpation.“, specifies the MSD Manual. The doctor will have to palpate and press on the abdomen to cause pain. Secondly, examinations, blood tests and ultrasound scans will be necessary to check what this appendicitis looks like, in particular its size. Once the diagnosis has been made, head to the operating room. Indeed, “Surgery is the main treatment for appendicitis.. And this support is very important. “Delaying surgical treatment until the cause of abdominal pain is certain can lead to the death of the patient: an infected appendix can perforate less than 36 hours after the onset of symptoms“. Or, “Without surgery, appendicitis is fatal in most people“.
In France, appendectomy is the most commonly performed surgical operation, with 60,000 operations per year. The patient can leave the hospital in one to three days and recovery is very short.
