Appendicitis Symptoms in Women

Appendicitis refers to the inflammation of the appendix, and is characterized by an acute and intense abdominal pain that begins at the navel area, and then gradually radiates to the right side of the abdomen. It can affect both men and women of any age. In women, the condition is more common in the age group of 10 to 30 years. The appendix or vermiform appendix is basically, a small finger-like appendage or pouch that is about 3.5 inches in length. It is located at the lower right side of the abdomen, just near the junction of the small and the large intestine. Its symptoms in women and men are more or less similar, with the exception in pregnant women.

Causes of Appendicitis
It results from an obstruction of the organ by hardened feces and food waste. Such substances can get trapped inside the appendix and create a favorable environment for bacterial growth. This can eventually cause infection and inflammation of the organ. Apart from foreign particles, swelling of the lymphatic tissues of the wall of the appendix too can cause a blockage. Such blockage can harbor not only bacteria, but fungi, parasite and virus as well, all of which can cause infection. As a result, the appendix gets inflamed and filled up with pus. Occasionally, it can be caused by a previous infection like, gastrointestinal viral infection. Other possible causes include, trauma or injury to the abdominal area, intestinal worms and formation of calcified deposits, known as 'appendicoliths'.

Appendicitis Symptoms in Women
In general, both men and women can experience the following symptoms.

• A dull pain that begins around the navel, and then settles near the lower right side of the abdomen
• Abdominal pain that becomes more intense with time, and worsens with coughing, walking or any sudden movement of the body
• Tenderness of the lower right abdomen
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever
• Constipation
• Abdominal swelling
• Inability to pass gas

Its symptoms during pregnancy can be a bit different. As for example, appendicitis can cause pain in the flank or the back region, instead of the lower right abdomen during later pregnancy. This is because, the growing fetus pushes the appendix upwards towards the right kidney. Other symptoms like, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and abdominal swelling can be present, but these are also some of the common conditions associated with normal pregnancy. The symptoms during early pregnancy are similar to those observed in non-pregnant women.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Appendicitis
The diagnosis begins with the physical examination of the painful area. Physicians usually apply gentle pressure on the right lower abdomen in order to look for tenderness. If the peritoneum is inflamed due to appendicitis, then one can experience rebound tenderness. Rebound tenderness is the pain that can be felt when the physician releases his or her hand after pushing the abdomen. Physical examination may also reveal abdominal rigidity. Physical examination is followed by blood tests to find out the count of white blood cells. An elevated count of white blood cells usually indicate infection. However, during pregnancy, elevated count of white blood cells can be normal. Other tests carried out for the diagnosis are, urine test, and X-ray, ultrasound and CT scan of the abdomen.

The usual treatment is the surgical removal of the inflamed appendix. Appendix removal can be carried out with the help of an open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. In laparoscopic surgery, several small incisions are made in the abdomen through which the special surgical tools are inserted into the abdomen, to remove the appendix. A laparoscope is also inserted into the abdomen through a small incision. The video camera present in the laparoscope gives a magnified image of the inside of the abdomen to facilitate the surgical removal of the appendix. The healing time for laparoscopic surgery is usually less than open surgery. However, if the appendix has ruptured, and as a result the infection has spread to other areas, then the appendix has to be removed with open surgery. Before surgery, the pain is usually managed with the help of appropriate pain medications.

If the inflamed appendix ruptures or bursts inside the abdomen, it can cause serious complications. Rupture of the appendix can cause the infection to spread to other parts of the abdominal cavity. This can also cause the contents of the intestine to leak into the abdominal cavity. Sometimes, such seepage and infection spreading to the abdominal cavity can lead to the formation of abscess. If such appendiceal abscess tears, then it can cause a more serious and widespread infection to the abdominal cavity. These complications can be avoided with the removal of the inflamed appendix. Pregnant women should remain more vigilant against appendicitis.