by Rachael Stone

Created on: June 07, 2008   Last Updated: February 19, 2012

There are two forms of appendicitis, acute and chronic, acute appendicitis is very common and can affect anyone of any age although teenagers and young adults are more likely to be affected. Acute appendicitis starts when a blockage occurs from faeces, also known as motions, stools or poo. It is this blockage which then causes bacteria to thrive, thus begins inflammation of the appendix.

In the early stages of appendicitis, you will perhaps notice a slight ache around the naval or middle area of your tummy. Over the next few hours, this will eventually move to the lower part of the abdomen on the right hand side. As the tissues surrounding the area are open more to the inflammation from the appendix, the pain will become more acute and sharper over the next 24 hours.

The pain will settle in the lower right hand side of the abdomen where the appendix is normally homed. The location of the pain can differ according to the positioning of the appendix and age of the sufferer.

The beginnings of appendicitis can be hard to diagnose and are often mistaken by sufferers to be an upset stomach, indigestion or some other digestion problem. Therefore, instead of seeking medical attention they will simply take an antacid or some other pain medication and simply try to sleep it off.

Other symptoms you may experience are feeling sick, lack of appetite, fever, feeling unwell, constipation or diarrhoea, and a frequent passing of urine. Appendicitis can worsen and become serious very fast, if you should find yourself in this situation showing any of these symptoms. Or you realise that the pain has not eased with any medication, but is instead becoming more intense then you should consult a doctor.

In all cases of suspected appendicitis, you should see your doctor for diagnosis. If you are showing, typical symptoms of appendicitis then it will be easy for the doctor to diagnose. However, if there are a lack of symptoms diagnosis may be a little more difficult.

There is no easy test to confirm appendicitis and sometimes decisions have to happen quickly, leading to needless surgery that then finds the appendix to be normal. Sometimes a surgeon may suggest taking the action to wait and see for a few hours just to make sure that it is appendicitis and not some other stomach problem. If there is further doubt that you are actually suffering from appendicitis then tests such as an ultrasound or a CT scan may help to identify it.

However, these tests take time, and removing the appendix

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