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Appendicitis is an inflamed appendix. It can cause acute (sudden, intense) pain in your lower abdomen. The appendix is a small, tubular pouch, about the size of a finger, that protrudes from the lower right end of your large intestine.

Appendicitis is almost always an acute condition, which means it begins suddenly and worsens quickly. Most of what we know about appendicitis refers to acute appendicitis, which is very common. Chronic appendicitis is a rare condition that we don’t know as much about. It appears to occur when something irritates your appendix in an on-and-off sort of way over a long period, but it never gets worse.

Chronic appendicitis may go unrecognized because the symptoms don’t escalate the way they do in acute appendicitis. Chronic appendicitis may worsen or become acute at any time.

In early, recurrent, or sub-acute cases of appendicitis, choose homeopathy as a complementary therapy. Homeopathic care aims to support the body’s natural healing and calm discomfort, using individualized remedies tailored to the person’s specific symptoms. Homeopathy is seen as a supportive approach aimed at easing discomfort and promoting balance.

Symptoms and Causes

The most common symptoms of appendicitis are abdominal pain, nausea and loss of appetite.

Abdominal pain begins in the middle of your abdomen, around your belly button. It may hover or may come and go for several hours.

Nausea and vomiting

Pain shifts to your lower right abdomen, where your appendix is. The pain becomes more focused and continues to worsen.

Fever. Up to 40% of people develop a fever. This means your immune system is kicking into a higher gear. It may also mean that inflammation is increasing.

Malaise.

Swollen belly. The abdomen may look distended or feel bloated. This is usually an advanced symptom and may indicate your appendix has ruptured.

Urinary symptoms. Feel like you have to pee more often or more urgently. This can happen if appendicitis irritates nerves connected to your bladder.

Bowel paralysis. When body redirects blood flow from your bowels to your appendix, bowels can temporarily stop moving.

Diarrhea.

McBurney’s sign. McBurney’s point is the most typical location of the appendix, and tenderness there is the first thing healthcare providers check for in a physical exam. They find it by drawing a line from your ASIS (a bony projection near your hip) to your belly button and measuring the distance. The point is about two inches along the line, or one-third of the distance.

Blumberg’s sign. Pressure applied to the sore area feels worse when it’s released (also known as rebound tenderness).

Dunphy’s sign. Coughing makes the pain worse.

Rovsing’s sign. Pressure on your lower left side produces pain on your lower right side.

Psoas sign. If the appendix is behind the colon rather than in front, appendicitis might irritate the psoas muscle. Might find yourself flexing your right hip to shorten the muscle, which relieves pain. A healthcare provider might try extending your right hip or rotating it outward. If this hurts, it’s called the psoas sign. If rotating it inward hurts, it’s called the obturator sign.

Differential diagnosis

Pelvic inflammatory disease.

Endometriosis.

Ovarian cyst.

Kidney stone.

Urinary tract infection.

Pancreatitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease.

Diverticulitis of the colon.

Gastroenteritis.

Intestinal obstruction.

Causes

Lymphoid hyperplasia

Colitis. Inflammation in the colon

Tumors.

Parasites.

Cystic fibrosis.

COMPLICATIONS

Ischemia and necrosis.

Gangrene/perforation.

Abscess/phlegmon.

Peritonitis and spreading infection.

Diagnosis and Tests

Blood tests can show signs of inflammation, such as a high white blood cell count or C-reactive protein count, and they can help identify an infection.

Imaging tests, such as an abdominal ultrasound or a CT scan, can show if the appendix is swollen.

Management and Treatment

Appendectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide. Surgeons can often perform it using minimally invasive methods, such as laparoscopic surgery.

Homeopathic medicine for appendicitis pain

Belladonna

Colocynthis

Iris versicolor