Symptoms of Appendicitis and When to Visit an Emergency Room In Houston, TX

What Is Appendicitis?

It is a condition featuring the inflammation of the appendix as it fills up with pus and becomes severely painful. An appendix is a part of the colon whose role in the body is yet to be identified. Appendicitis affects anyone but is more prevalent between age 10 and 30.

What Causes Appendicitis?

The condition occurs due to a blockage of the lining of the appendix so that it gets infected with bacteria. The blockage is usually due to poop or a foreign object in your body that should not be there. In other cases, you may have appendicitis due to cancer.

The rapid multiplication of the bacteria in the blocked appendix makes appendicitis a severe condition that requires urgent care in an emergency room in Houston, TX. Besides, the standard treatment for appendicitis is surgery to remove the appendix, which is a procedure that is typically performed in emergency medical care in Houston.

Symptoms of Appendicitis

Diagnosing appendicitis is difficult if you try to do it without a doctor. The reason is that the condition may look like other abdominal health issues like kidney stones, urinary tract disease, or gallbladder syndrome. For this reason, you need to see a doctor as soon as you exhibit any of the following symptoms:

1. Pain and discomfort near your belly button – is the most common indicator of appendicitis during the initial stages.
2. Nausea and vomiting
3. Dizziness and lightheadedness
4. Decreased appetite
5. Fever and body chills
6. Pain that extends to the lower right side of your abdomen
7. Pain that worsens when you move, cough, or laugh.
8. Constipation
9. Flatulence
10. Abdominal bloating

When to Visit an Emergency Room for Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a serious condition that can be fatal if left untreated. Ideally, as soon as you realize you have appendicitis, do not hesitate to call us at Memorial Heights Emergency Center or walk-in for urgent care. However, if you are unsure, be sensitive enough to identify severe symptoms. If any of the symptoms mentioned above progress or worsen, visit an emergency room immediately. Aside from those, seek immediate medical attention in an ER near you for any of the following factors:

1. Repeated vomiting
2. Severe abdominal cramps
3. Passing out or fainting
4. Difficulty passing gas
5. Pain progression and worsening

Why Do You Need Urgent Care for Appendicitis?

Although it is a condition that improves after a couple of days, treatment is mandatory. If left untreated, the appendix can be so inflamed that it ruptures. A ruptured appendix causes another potentially life-threatening health problem called peritonitis, where the bacteria in the appendix spread throughout the abdomen. Aside from Rapturing, the appendix can lead to an abscess, a pocket of pus forming in the abdominal region. Treating the abscess requires draining tubes in your abdomen for about two weeks to drain all the pus. Meanwhile, you will take prescribed antibiotics to rid your body of the bacteria.

What to Expect After Surgery for Appendicitis

Statistics show that in the USA, 1 in 20 people get appendicitis in their lifetime. It means that more people are leading their lives without an appendix than you know. Fortunately, your body will be just fine after removing the appendix through a surgical procedure called an appendectomy. However, you must be watchful to ensure your wound heals properly. Some complications that may arise after your surgery involve:

1. Infection of the wound
2. Blood in your urine or vomit
3. Uncontrolled vomiting
4. Pain that does not resolve after several days of recovery
5. Pus in the wound
6. A high fever
7. Significant redness and swelling of the wound

How to Prevent Appendicitis

Until now, medical experts have not yet developed a particular solution for preventing this disease. However, patients who stick to healthy meal choices have a significantly lower probability of suffering appendicitis than those who do not. Increase your intake of foods rich in fiber, which are commonly present in fruits and vegetables.