Latest news with #appendicitis
Medical News Today
3 days ago
- General
- Medical News Today
Can strep throat cause appendicitis?
Strep throat and appendicitis are separate conditions, and there is no evidence that strep throat leads to appendicitis. Sometimes, strep throat causes abdominal pain, which can mimic appendicitis. This may be due to the inflammatory response the infection causes or to swallowing Streptococci bacteria, which can irritate the bowels. Strep throat, or streptococcal pharyngitis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. It is most common in children ages 5 to 15 years . It causes symptoms such as a sore throat, pain when swallowing, and a sudden onset of fever. Appendicitis is swelling and infection of the appendix, a small pouch in the bowel on the right side of the abdomen. It typically develops when something in the digestive tract becomes stuck in the appendix. Appendicitis causes symptoms such as pain in the abdomen and fever. If the appendix bursts, it can lead to serious complications, and surgery is usually necessary to remove it . Abdominal pain may occur due to an inflammatory response to Streptococcus bacteria or appendicitis. In a 2018 study , researchers found that of 207 people undergoing ultrasound imaging for suspected appendicitis, 8 had appendicitis, and 35 had strep pharyngitis. None of the people involved had both conditions at the same time. Doctors must treat appendicitis quickly to prevent serious complications. If anyone experiences the following symptoms of appendicitis, they should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room: abdominal pain that is worsening gradually abdominal pain that moves to the lower right side fever and vomiting People may also experience nausea, constipation, diarrhea, urinary frequency, painful urination, and sudden confusion, which is more common in older adults.
Medical News Today
3 days ago
- General
- Medical News Today
Is appendicitis hereditary? Understanding the genetics
Is it hereditary? Other causes Risk factors Contacting a doctor Summary Research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors likely play a role in the development of appendicitis. Genetic variations may affect the risk and severity of appendicitis. Appendicitis is the medical term for inflammation of the appendix — a small, tube-shaped organ attached to the large intestine. Genetic and environmental factors may contribute to this condition. Appendicitis symptoms can come on suddenly and may quickly become severe. Without immediate treatment, the condition can be life threatening. Christine La/Stocksy The researchers suggest certain genetic variations may play a role in determining an individual's appendicitis risk and severity. Scientists refer to these genetic variations as 'single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)' or 'snips.' According to the article, the snips HLX and CTSB appear to play a causal role in the development of appendicitis. These snips correlate with increased levels of an inflammatory biomarker called C-reactive protein (CRP). People with appendicitis often have higher levels of CRP in their blood. These findings suggest that certain genetic variations can make the appendix more susceptible to inflammation, increasing the risk of appendicitis. Similarly, a 2019 article associated appendicitis risk with genetic variation in genes that control cytokine production. Cytokines are proteins that help to control inflammation in the body, and one of their roles is to regulate CRP production. Overall, these findings suggest that certain variations in the genes that control inflammation can make someone more or less susceptible to appendicitis. However, more research may be necessary to fully understand this relationship. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), other possible causes of appendicitis include : hardened stool or growths that block the opening of the appendix enlarged tissue in the wall of the appendix due to an infection within the digestive tract or elsewhere in the body inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) However, they note that multiple factors can contribute to appendicitis and the cause is not often clear. Appendicitis occurs most often in people between the ages of 5 and 45 years. There is a slightly higher incidence of male appendicitis than female appendicitis. However, it can affect anyone, regardless of their sex, and the difference in prevalence among those of different sexes is not clinically significant. A 2023 observational study also suggests that the following dietary and lifestyle factors may increase the risk of appendicitis: However, the study's authors note that more research is necessary. As the NIDDK explains, appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires urgent treatment. Delaying treatment can cause the appendix to rupture, which can be life threatening. Around 2% of appendicitis cases progress to rupture around 36 hours from the onset of symptoms. This figure increases by around 5% for each additional 12 hours that pass without treatment. Anyone with symptoms of appendicitis should see a doctor or go to the emergency room immediately to ease the symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. According to the NIDDK , the most common symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain, which may: come on suddenly begin near the belly button and spread to the lower-right part of the abdomen worsen with movement, or with deep breathing, coughing, or sneezing worsen within a matter of hours be severe, and feel different to any other type of pain Other possible symptoms of appendicitis include: Research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors likely play a role in the development of appendicitis. Genetic variations in the genes that help to control inflammation may increase the risk of appendicitis in some cases. These genetic variants can pass from parents to offspring. As such, having a family history of appendicitis can increase a person's susceptibility to the disease. Anyone with symptoms of appendicitis should contact a doctor or attend their local accident and emergency department immediately. Without treatment, appendicitis can progress to a ruptured appendix, which can be fatal. Genetics GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Medical News Today
3 days ago
- General
- Medical News Today
Appendicitis treated without surgery: Research and more
Yes, some people recover from appendicitis with antibiotic treatment alone, without the need for surgery. However, surgery remains the standard treatment. Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small pouch attached to the lower right of the large intestine. The standard treatment for appendicitis is an appendectomy, which is surgery to remove the appendix. This is typically straightforward and can cure the condition, but it carries risks, particularly for older adults and those with other health conditions. Emerging evidence shows that treating appendicitis with antibiotics is as successful as appendectomy in some people. In a 2023 long-term study in Sweden , researchers tracked the health of 259 people who had either surgery or antibiotics to treat appendicitis in the 1990s. The health of some people was tracked for over 26 years. The researchers found that in the nonsurgery group: 21 out of 137 people needed an appendectomy while still in the hospital following their initial admission. 34 out of 137 people later developed appendicitis and had appendectomy surgery. 82 out of 137 people did not require an appendectomy over the course of the study. Around 1 in 10 people required outpatient care for abdominal pain over the course of the study, compared with only 1 in the surgery group. This study suggests that surgery is not the only treatment option for appendicitis, but also highlights the risk of recurrence for people who do not have surgery. Researchers are currently working to establish who might be able to avoid surgery based on their general health, symptoms, and test results. Antibiotic treatment may be particularly helpful for people who are not good candidates for surgery or would prefer to avoid surgery. Some people wish to keep their appendix, which may have long-term benefits that are not yet fully understood. More research involving larger numbers of people is necessary before experts can draw conclusions about the best way to treat appendicitis.
Bloomberg
23-05-2025
- Health
- Bloomberg
I'm Glad I Got Appendicitis in the UK (Not the US)
Since I was a child, I've been terrified of appendicitis. There was no horseplay with my cousins and siblings after a meal. I suspect that myth was helpful to parents who wanted their children well-behaved in spite of post-dessert sugar highs. Still, everyone is born with an appendix and so we are all at risk one way or another. There are enough horror stories to make us wary. Most famously: Harry Houdini, the legendary magician and escape artist, who couldn't escape from a belatedly attended, ruptured appendix. (Apropos the jumping-about thesis, Houdini was punched in the stomach by an overexcited fan, but he was already experiencing belly pain a day before that.) He died of peritonitis — the bacterial infection of the abdominal cavity caused by pus from the burst appendix — on Halloween 1926, the 11th day after he'd noticed symptoms and about a week after surgery. All that said, appendicitis — and the appendectomies performed to rid people of the acute infections — is routinely dealt withnowadays, with some 280,000 cases in the US and about 50,000 in the UK every year. The procedures are mostly done laparoscopically with three small incisions that allow a small, lighted camera to guide surgeons toward the inflamed organ to remove it. There are few complications, though soreness and tenderness can last for a few weeks after. It is, despite the small incisions, major surgery. Most cases involve people 30 or younger, perhaps — as some studies surmise — because hormonal activity may lead to the blockage of the appendix's opening to the large intestine, the condition that leads to the inflammation of the finger-like, 2- to 4-inch-long tendril-like pouch. Tennis legend Rafael Nadal underwent an appendectomy in 2015 when he was 28; he went on to win seven more grand-slam titles.
The Independent
12-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
ITV star Ranvir Singh undergoes ‘urgent surgery' after misdiagnosing symptoms
Ranvir Singh, the Good Morning Britain host, underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix. In a post on social media, the ITV presenter said she initially mistook the appendicitis for a stomach ache and delayed seeking medical attention. Singh's appendix ruptured, leading to a bacterial infection in her bloodstream and requiring urgent surgery. She was forced to miss hosting Lorraine on Friday (May 9) and is now recovering at home. Andi Peters filled in for Singh on Lorraine, wishing her a speedy recovery. Ranvir Singh rushed into 'urgent surgery' after misdiagnosing deadly symptom
