Appendicitis

The appendix is a blind-ended tube attached to the start of the large intestine. It is an inch or two long. In some animals it is much longer, and helps digest fibrous plant material. In humans it is an evolutionary remnant, and has no known useful function.

Appendicitis is infection of the appendix. It often starts with a high fever and a constant tummy pain around the belly-button. After a few hours, the pain moves and settles in the lower right tummy, becoming more severe. It is often so painful that the sufferer is doubled up and reluctant to move. Vomiting, and sometimes diarrhoea, are not uncommon. It is very rare in babies.

What to do

• Do not give your child anything to eat or drink until he has seen a doctor
• If travel to the surgery is impossible because of the pain, then ask for a home visit
• Keep your child cool with sponging
• If at all possible, collect a urine sample in any clean container. A urinary infection can appear similar to appendicitis, but a simple dipstick test of the urine can show whether or not there is infection. This can be a great help for the doctor in trying to figure out the cause of the pain

Untreated, appendicitis can be very serious. Though some cases will settle without an operation, unless there is some very good reason not to operate, it will be necessary to remove the appendix under a general anaesthetic. This is a straightforward operation and children make a full recovery very quickly.

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