Appendicitis is dangerous

We all know someone who has had to have his or her appendix out. Maybe you have suffered from appendicitis. The appendix is a small tube, about nine centimetres long, attached to the caecum, which lies between the small and large intestines. Sometimes the appendix becomes infected. If it is not removed, it may burst and then the contents of the appendix willl spill into the abdomen. This leads to a serious infection called peritonitis.

There is only one way to prevent peritonitis from occurring - the appendix must be removed before it bursts. It is therefore important to recognise the symptoms of appendicitis quickly.

The danger is that the symptoms of appendicitis are very similar to those of an ordinary stomach upset. Sometimes this means that appendicitis is not recognised until it is too late. However, there are some differences - in the case of appendicitis the patient feels very severe pains in the right lower abdomen whch get worse if he or she moves about. The patient's temperature may rise to over 38 degrees Celsius.

If you think someone has appendicitis, call the doctor arrives. Do not give him, or her any medicine, food or drinks as these things might make the condition worse, and cause problems if the patient has to be given an anaethetic when in hospital.