The appendix is an organ that performs several bodily functions which include acting as a reservoir for good bacteria to aid in digestion and boost immunity of the overall body.

However, many a time, the organ acquires severe illness and appendix surgery becomes inevitable. Despite its usefulness, we can survive without the appendix, without any severe consequences. It is most often required when the appendix gets inflamed, a condition is known as the appendicitis.

Before knowing its main symptoms, let’s understand in detain what is appendicitis?

Appendicitis is a condition when the appendix gets swollen due to either some infection or due to an effect of some pathogens. It needs prompt action, and as oral medication does very little to no help at all, the surgery is the best way of the curing it permanently. This condition often onset into action, due to blockage by stool, cancer or a foreign pathogen.

What symptoms it has?

Though the symptoms often vary from person to person, depending on its stage and other factors, the most common symptoms of the same are the followings.

• Loss of appetite
• A dull or mild pain in the upper abdominal region, which gets severe over a period of time and it begins to shift towards the right side of the abdomen. This is often considered as the primary sign of the same.
• High fever of 99 to 102 Fahrenheit
• Swelling of the abdominal cavity
• Nausea or vomiting, usually accompanied by abdominal cramps
• Inability to pass gas
• Painful urination and the inability to pass urine easily
• Sudden sharp pain or persistent dull pain in the abdominal region
• Chronic diarrhea
• Chronic constipation

What happens if it is left untreated?

If the appendix surgery is not executed and left untreated, it will continue to accumulate and swell up to a point and then it will eventually rupture and it will spill all of its contents into the body. This will not only make its further treatment very difficult but will also begin to spread the illness to its nearby regions. If it reaches to a condition named peritonitis.

If an individual encounters more than three symptoms of the same, he or she should seek medical help immediately. Taking any over the counter drugs, antacids, heating pads etc is strictly restricted as these can cause the adverse effect on the appendix and can make it burst. This will interfere with the medical treatment and make it more challenging to cure the same.