The appendix is a small, tubular organ that connects to the large intestine.
Appendicitis occurs when this tube becomes blocked due to infection, which leads to inflammation.
Symptoms of Appendix in Females and males include sudden, severe pain in the lower abdomen, nausea and loss of appetite.
A ruptured appendix is a serious condition that requires urgent medical intervention, as the bacteria that caused the inflammation can spread into the abdominal cavity, causing peritonitis, and can also reach the blood, causing life-threatening blood poisoning.
The treatment for appendicitis is usually to remove it, as the exact role it plays in the body is unknown.
What is Appendicitis and Why Are Women at Risk?
The appendix is a small tubular organ that connects to the large intestine near its junction with the small intestine.
The appendix can become inflamed due to a microbial infection, causing symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and loss of appetite.
A ruptured appendix can be a life-threatening condition due to the contamination it causes in the abdominal cavity, which may lead to blood poisoning.
The risk of appendicitis increases in women due to several factors:
Anatomical structure: The appendix is located near the female reproductive system, which makes it difficult to diagnose appendicitis pain from other health problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Pregnancy: During pregnancy, it is difficult to locate the appendix, which makes it difficult to diagnose the inflammation.
Pregnancy itself can also put pressure on the appendix, causing it to become inflamed.
Hormonal changes: Women suffer from Hormonal fluctuations which increases the risk of appendicitis. ( Lotfollahzadeh, Lopez, & . Deppen., n.d.)
Symptoms of Appendicitis in Females
The most common Symptoms of Appendicitis in Females is sudden severe abdominal pain accompanied by nausea and loss of appetite.
The pain starts in the middle of the abdomen around the navel and develops after several hours into vomiting and nausea, then the vomiting and nausea stop and the pain moves to the lower abdomen near the inflamed appendix area and then worsens. The patient may show the following symptoms:
Fever: This is a natural reaction of the body to a microbial infection and appears in about 40% of cases.
Feeling of discomfort: The body becomes unwell, exhausted and loses energy.
Abdominal bloating: One of the severe symptoms that may indicate a ruptured appendix.
Feeling a frequent urge to urinate: This is if the inflammation is pressing on the nerves of the bladder.
Intestinal paralysis: This is due to the body directing blood towards the inflamed appendix, causing the intestines to become temporarily paralyzed.
Constipation and flatulence: Other symptoms of appendicitis, and some people suffer from diarrhea. ( Humes & Simpson, 2006)
Diagnosis and Treatment for Appendicitis
Appendicitis is diagnosed as follows:
Medical history: The doctor asks about symptoms of appendix in females such as pain and its severity, nausea, and loss of appetite.
Physical examination: To check for muscle tension in the abdominal area and the presence of pain or rebound pain, etc.
Medical tests: Such as the number of white blood cells, which indicates the presence of inflammation.
Imaging: Abdominal CT scan and ultrasound.
Treatment of appendicitis
The treatment is usually to remove it surgically using an endoscope, and in some mild cases the doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
References
Humes, D. J., & Simpson, J. (2006). PubMed. Retrieved from Acute appendicitis: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1562475/
Lotfollahzadeh, S., Lopez, R. A., & . Deppen., J. G. (n.d.). StatPearls. Retrieved from Appendicitis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493193/
