The appendix is a small, tube-shaped pouch with one closed end and the other attached to the cecum (the beginning of the large intestine). Appendicitis is a common condition that can affect anyone, most frequently occurring between the ages of 10 and 30. Recognizing appendicitis in children and older adults (over 60) is often more challenging than in adolescents. This is because older adults may have a diminished ability to perceive pain and often have underlying conditions with similar symptoms, which can mask or be mistaken for appendicitis.

Doctor Nguyen Cong Uan, from the Center for Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Digestive Surgery at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, outlines some common symptoms of appendicitis.

Abdominal pain: The location of the pain is often variable, differing from case to case. Some individuals experience pain around or above the navel. The pain initially may be dull but progressively intensifies over 4-6 hours, eventually localizing to the lower right quadrant of the abdomen (the location of the appendix). This pain is often accompanied by nausea or vomiting, and loose stools. The pain of appendicitis typically appears suddenly and worsens with changes in posture.

Indigestion: Patients may experience symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Other potential signs of appendicitis include constipation or diarrhea, bloating, and difficulty passing gas.

Doctor Uan examining a patient. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Doctor Uan examining a patient. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Fever: According to Doctor Uan, fever, present in about 40% of patients, indicates that the immune system is actively fighting inflammation or infection. A high fever can also suggest the spread of infection or peritonitis.

Abdominal rigidity: This refers to the abdomen becoming tense and hard, unable to be indented, painful to the touch, and may signal a ruptured appendix.

Less common symptoms can include pain in the lower abdomen, lower back, or right flank, pain radiating to the left side, painful or difficult urination, and general fatigue and lethargy.

In most cases, appendicitis is acute, occurring relatively suddenly and requiring immediate medical attention. Without prompt diagnosis and intervention, a severely inflamed appendix can rupture, spreading infection throughout the abdomen. Causes of appendicitis can include blockage of the appendix by fecaliths (hardened stool), lymphoid hyperplasia, or foreign objects, leading to inflammation of the appendiceal lining.

Doctor Uan advises seeking immediate medical attention if you experience abdominal pain around or above the navel that migrates to the lower right abdomen. The pain typically doesn't subside and progressively worsens, often accompanied by symptoms like fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation.

Doctors may order blood tests, urine tests, abdominal ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI scans, etc. to reach an accurate diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment.

Thao Nhi