APPENDICITIS \ ap•pen•di•ci•tis\

When the appendix is inflamed and filled with pus, that painful condition is called appendicitis. Standard treatment is surgical removal of the narrow pouch that extends from the colon on the right side of the abdomen. The true cause of appendicitis isn’t known, but it might be related to an obstruction or infection. Symptoms can include aching pain around the navel that shifts to the lower right side of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, low-grade fever, constipation, diarrhea, and an inability to pass gas. To help make a diagnosis, the physician will take a symptom history, perform a thorough examination, and order procedures that might include a blood, urine, and imaging tests (abdominal X-ray or CT scan). For such a small organ that has no known essential function, the appendix can be a real pain.