Which condition is characterized by inflammation of the appendix?

Which condition is characterized by inflammation of the appendix?

• A. Gastroenteritis
• B. IBS
• C. Appendicitis
• D. Cirrhosis

Answer: (C)

Appendicitis is the condition described. It’s an acute inflammation of the appendix, a small pouch off the large intestine. The hallmark is sudden abdominal pain that often starts around the belly button and then moves to the lower right part of the abdomen, accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. On exam, you may find tenderness around McBurney’s point, plus guarding or rebound tenderness. The inflammation typically arises when the appendix gets obstructed (often by a small stone-like fecalith), allowing bacteria to multiply and irritate the tissue. If not treated promptly, it can worsen or rupture, leading to serious infection. Treatment is usually appendix removal (appendectomy) with antibiotics around the time of surgery. The other conditions listed aren’t inflammation of the appendix: gastroenteritis involves infection or irritation of the stomach and intestines with symptoms like diarrhea; irritable bowel syndrome is a functional pain condition without an inflamed appendix; cirrhosis is liver scarring and not related to the appendix.

Appendicitis is the condition described. It’s an acute inflammation of the appendix, a small pouch off the large intestine. The hallmark is sudden abdominal pain that often starts around the belly button and then moves to the lower right part of the abdomen, accompanied by fever, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. On exam, you may find tenderness around McBurney’s point, plus guarding or rebound tenderness. The inflammation typically arises when the appendix gets obstructed (often by a small stone-like fecalith), allowing bacteria to multiply and irritate the tissue. If not treated promptly, it can worsen or rupture, leading to serious infection. Treatment is usually appendix removal (appendectomy) with antibiotics around the time of surgery. The other conditions listed aren’t inflammation of the appendix: gastroenteritis involves infection or irritation of the stomach and intestines with symptoms like diarrhea; irritable bowel syndrome is a functional pain condition without an inflamed appendix; cirrhosis is liver scarring and not related to the appendix.