Hi, I do have a lower back pain for 3 days now and very painful while  I am walking. I also vomited twice today and feeling nauseated almost all the time. Am I suffering from Appendicitis?

Nurse Advise and Comment:

You need to see a doctor as soon as you can.
Appendicitis pain located at the right part of your abdomen not at the lower back as you are experiencing. Yeah, it accompanied by nausea and vomiting at times.

Here are more information about appendicitis. But before reading further I advise you to see a medical practitioner or go to hospital for check-up and evaluation.

Appendicitis

Let us discuss first what is appendix? Appendix is a small fingerlike appendage about 10 cm or 4 inches in length, that is attached to the cecum just below the eleoceccal valve. The anatomical name for appendix is vermiform appendix which means worm-like appendage.

The inner lining of the appendix produces a little amount of mucus that flows through the open center of the appendix and into the cecum. The wall of the appendix contains lymphatic tissue that is part of the immune system for making antibodies. It also contains a layer of muscle but that muscle is poorly developed. There is no definite function assigned to it in humans. The appendix fills with food and empties regularly as does the cecum, of which it is a part. It empties inefficiently, however, and its lumen is very small, so that it is prone to become obstructed and is particularly vulnerable to infection called appendicitis.

Appendicitis is a physical condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. Appendicitis starts when the openings from the appendix to the cecum become blocked. Due to the build-up of thick mucus inside the appendix or to stool that enters the appendix from the cecum. When the mucus or stool hardens it becomes rock-like, and it blocks the opening. The rock like stool is called fecalith.

When the lymphatic tissue in the appendix is affected it may swell and block the appendix. After the blockage occurs, bacteria that are normally found inside the appendix begin to invade and infect the wall of the appendix. The body reacts to the invasion by increasing an attack on the bacteria, an attack called inflammation.

If the inflammation and infection spread through the wall of the appendix, the appendix may rupture, and infection can spread throughout the abdomen. It is a medical emergency. All cases require removal of the inflamed appendix either by laparotomy or laparoscopy and if left untreated death may occur, mainly because of peritonitis and shock.

Clinical Manifestation includes:

• The inflammatory process increases intraluminal pressure, initiating a progressively severe generalized or upper abdominal pain which within a few hours, become localized in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen.
• Pain on the right iliac fossa or periumbilical pain.
• The pain is accompanied with low grade fever.
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Feeling of drowsiness
• And feeling of general bad health.
• On palpation there is rebound tenderness.
• Diarrhea
• Frequent urination
• Tenesmus or downward urge the feeling that a bowel movement will relieve discomfort.
• Mc Burney’s point located halfway between the umbilicus and the anterior spine of the ilium, local tenderness is noted when pressure is applied and there is rigidity of the lower portion of the right rectus muscle.
• Moderate leukocytosis is often present.
• Loss of appetite

Complication of Appendicitis

1. The major complication of appendicitis is perforation.
2. Peritonitis or infection of the entire lining of the abdomen and pelvis.
3. Periappendiceal abscess or a collection of infected pus.
4. Pyelophlebitis
5. Blockage of the intestine
6. nausea and vomiting may occur
7. Sepsis a condition in which infecting bacteria enter the blood and travel to other parts of the body. The most serious and life threatening complication.

Management:

• Surgery is always indicated if acute appendicitis is suspected.
• Parenteral electrolyte and amino acid solutions are given.
• Gastric suction
• And Antibiotics