What is appendicitis?
Appendicitis means inflammation of the appendix. The inflamed appendix becomes infected with bacteria (germs) from the intestine. The inflamed appendix gradually swells and fills with pus. Eventually, if not treated, the swollen appendix might perforate (burst). This is very serious as the contents of the intestine then spill into the abdominal cavity. This can cause a serious infection of the membrane that lines the abdomen (peritonitis), or an abscess in the abdomen. So, if appendicitis is suspected, early treatment is best before it bursts.
Who gets appendicitis?
Appendicitis is common and can affect anyone of any age. Teenagers and young adults are the most commonly affected. About 6 in 100 people in the UK have appendicitis sometime in their life. It is much more common in western countries. This is thought to be partly due to the western diet which is often low in fibre.
What causes appendicitis?
The reason why the appendix becomes inflamed in the first place is not known in most cases. Some cases are thought to be due to a blockage that occurs somewhere along the short appendix. This may be due to some hard faeces (sometimes called motions, stools or poo) that gets stuck. Bacteria may then thrive and cause inflammation behind the blockage in the 'dead end' of the appendix.
