Appendicitis

What is appendicitis?

Appendicitis happens when your appendix, that small little pouch attached to your large intestine, gets blocked and inflamed (by bacteria, stool, or even worms), it swells, fills with pus (thick greenish or yellowish fluids liquid produced in infected tissue), and causes pain. It sits on the lower-right side of your tummy. It can start suddenly or last for days, and it’s most common in people aged 10-30, especially the young men among us.

Misconceptions we’ve heard?

• “Tomatoes and guava seeds cause appendicitis!” No, not true.
• “Eating big meals or jumping around after eating causes it!” False again.
• “Eating gari or cassava causes appendicitis!” Absolutely not!

Who’s at risk?

• It mostly affects people aged 10-30, especially males.
• If your family has a history of appendicitis, you may be more likely to get it.

How does appendicitis happen?

It happens when your appendix gets blocked – maybe by hardened stool, intestinal worms, or enlarged lymph nodes. When this blockage happens, bacteria inside the appendix start multiplying, causing pain and pressure.

How do you know it’s appendicitis?

• Sharp pain in the lower rightabdomen that gets worse.
• Fever, nausea, and loss of appetite.
• Feeling bloated or unable to pass gas.

What happens if you don’t treat it?

If you ignore the pain, your appendix can burst, spilling bacteria into your belly. This can lead to a dangerous infection, and trust me, that’s not something you want to deal with.

How is it treated?

If you feel pain in the lower right side of your belly, don’t ignore it! See a doctor who will check your belly, ask about your symptoms, and maybe run some tests. If it’s appendicitis, you might need surgery to remove the appendix (called an appendectomy).