ACUTE APPENDICITIS
Acute abdominal conditions are serious and can be
life threatening if not promptly diagnosed and treated.
An example is Acute Appendicitis.
Each year, 1 in every 500 Americans will suffer the
onset of acute appendicitis. This is a common emergency
condition. The appendix is an organ arising at the
beginning of the large intestine. It is not known to
have any function in humans. It may become inflamed.
While acute appendicitis may sometimes be difficult to
diagnose, it must nevertheless be included in the list
of possible problems when a patient arrives at the
emergency room with complaints of severe abdominal
and/or flank pain, nausea and vomiting, and loss of
bowel function. Blood tests should show increased white
blood cells and the patient may have a fever.
The key to treatment is early diagnosis. If the
appendix ruptures, the patient may develop peritonitis
(inflammation of the abdominal cavity), abscess, or
other complications, which may be life-threatening, if
not fatal.
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