Chronic Appendicitis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Appendicitis is a condition where one experiences intermittent abdominal pain and this ailment can be acute or chronic. Chronic Appendicitis, a rare medical condition, is usually difficult to diagnose because of recurring symptoms. While abdominal pain is the most common symptom of this ailment, some patients also experience fever, fatigue, abdominal swelling, and malaise. The exact cause of chronic appendicitis is not known; however, in most cases, it is due to the inflammation and disruption caused in the appendix. This ailment can be treated with antibiotics, appendectomy, or other methods that the doctor recommends. Read on to know more.

Causes

The most common causes of chronic appendicitis are inflammation and obstruction in the appendix. Some other not-so-common causes include:

• Calcification of Faecal Deposits

• Tumours

• Faecal Matter Accumulation

• Trauma

• Enlargement of lymphoid follicles

• Worms in the stomach

• Presence of foreign objects like stones, marbles, and pins in the body

Symptoms

The symptoms of this ailment include:

• Abdominal pain

• Swelling and tenderness in the abdomen

• Fever

• Fatigue

• Malaise

Some not-so-common symptoms of this ailment include the following:

• Nausea

• Diarrhoea

Sometimes, the symptoms of chronic appendicitis may be extremely mild. One of the major reasons for chronic appendicitis not getting treated on time is that these symptoms are intermittent. It is best to visit the doctor as soon as you experience one or more of these symptoms for proper diagnosis and effective treatment.

Diagnosis

A doctor will first understand your medical history and your symptoms before he/she proceeds with the diagnosis. Usually, the first step is a physical examination, after which the following diagnostic tests are conducted to check for chronic appendicitis and rule out other conditions. Diagnostic tests include the following:

• Blood tests

• Pelvic Examination

• CT Examination

• Pregnancy Tests

• MRIs and X-Rays

• Urine Tests

• Ultrasound of the abdomen

Treatment

Your doctor may opt for one of these treatment methods to treat chronic appendicitis:

• Antibiotics

• Draining pus from the appendix

• Appendectomy, a laparoscopic or laparotomy surgery to remove the appendix