Appendicitis is a common condition when the appendix, a worm shaped pouch that is attached to the beginning of the large intestine with no known real function inside the body, gets inflamed. Even though it is a small organ of no real significance, Appendicitis can be a life threatening disease if left untreated and it can occur when the appendix becomes blocked by a foreign body, cancer, fecal matter or when the appendix responds by swelling due to an infection occurring elsewhere in the body.

Symptoms of Appendicitis are:

• Inability to pass gas
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal swelling
• Abdominal pain that is located first around the area of the belly button and moves to the lower right side. Pain may intensify when the patient is moving, taking deep breaths, coughing, or sneezing and the area may become tender.
• Low fever that begins after other symptoms

Other people with special conditions may simply experience a general feeling of being unwell. Among those include:

• Diabetics
• Cancer patients or those receiving chemotherapy
• Women who are pregnant
• Infants and young children
• The elderly
• People who use steroids or other immunosuppressive therapy
• Transplanted organ recipients
• People with HIV
• People who are obese

 Because of conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ovarian cysts, kidney stones and ectopic pregnancies that have similar symptoms, appendicitis is difficult to diagnose. However, several tests are done to rule the other diseases out. Tests include blood, urine and imaging tests as well as an abdominal examination that includes feeling the area that is tender for abdominal rigidity as well as stiffened abdominal muscles in response to pressure over the inflamed appendix.
 
 Appendicitis is treated with surgery to remove the appendix called an appendectomy once the diagnose for the disease is made. An appendectomy has two options. One of the options consist of the use a laparoscope, which requires three to four small incisions while the other consists of an incision that is made in the right lower part of the abdomen. The recovery is generally easy and requires 4 to 6 weeks.
 
 If you experience any of the symptoms of appendicitis, please seek emergency medical care immediately. Even though there is no known way to prevent appendicitis, it is found that people who eat foods high in fiber, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, are less likely to develop the disease.