Let's get to know the causes and symptoms of appendicitis

Inflammation of the appendix, or what we know as appendicitis, is one of the most common surgical cases. The incidence of appendicitis reaches 200 cases per 100,000 people, with the possibility of someone getting an appendicitis infection reaching 5-8% during their lifetime.

One of the causes of appendicitis is a blockage or presence of fecalith (hardened feces in the digestive tract) in the lumen of the appendix. The size of the appendix ranges from 8–10 cm, with a width of half to 1.5 cm. Blockage in the lumen of the appendix can cause swelling and inflammation of the appendix, known as appendicitis.

The main symptom of appendicitis is lower right abdominal pain; the pain can attack suddenly. The pain usually gets worse within a few hours, especially when moving, coughing, sneezing, or taking a deep breath, and can also be accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, and weakness.

The general diagnosis of appendicitis is based on symptoms, physical examination, laboratory examination, or abdominal ultrasound (USG) examination.

The risk of appendicitis or appendicitis becoming a ruptured appendix or perforation will increase if not treated immediately; the risk of a ruptured appendix increases by up to 30 percent after more than 24 hours.

The main treatment for appendicitis is surgery, either open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Open surgery can be performed by making an incision in the lower right abdominal area (McBurney area) or a laparotomy incision in the middle of the stomach. Meanwhile, laparoscopic surgery generally requires a smaller incision in the abdominal area. The main complication after appendectomy is infection from the surgical site. Contamination of the wound due to a ruptured appendix will increase the risk of surgical wound infection. Abdominal abscesses can also occur if contamination in the abdominal area is not cleaned adequately.

Immediately consult a doctor if you feel severe pain in the lower right abdomen accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, and weakness. If you experience symptoms that suggest appendicitis, do not delay seeing a doctor or using medication yourself to relieve the symptoms.

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