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Appendicitis
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Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a narrow pouch attached to the large intestine, something like a dead-end alley branching off the main road. Sometimes it's linked to a blockage of its lumen, the hollow channel running through the inside, and sometimes to growth of the lymphoid tissue in its wall, a kind of defense tissue. In plenty of cases, no one ever finds out what set it off.
If the inflammation keeps going, it can break open the wall of the appendix and spill its contents into the abdomen. That's peritonitis, a serious inflammation of the lining that covers the inside of the abdomen. Other times the trouble stays boxed in at one spot and pus collects right there, which is an abscess.
In brief
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a narrow pouch attached to the large intestine.
It may be associated with a blockage of the lumen, the appendix's inner channel, or with enlargement of the lymphoid tissue, the immune tissue in its wall. In many cases, the exact cause remains unclear.
The inflammation can progress until the wall perforates and the appendix spills its contents into the abdomen, causing peritonitis, a serious inflammation of the abdominal lining, or it can form a localized collection of pus called an abscess.
Sources (2)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesDefinition & Facts for AppendicitisPublished
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesSymptoms & Causes of AppendicitisPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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