What is appendicitis?
Inflammation of the appendix is called appendicitis.

What is the cause of appendicitis?
Appendicitis is generally caused due to obstruction of it's lumen. This obstruction is usually caused by fecalith (fecal matter).

What is chronic appendicitis?
Repeated attacks of appendicits constitutes chronic appendicitis. Every time, the patient recovers from the acute attack. He is well for some days before getting another similar attack.

What are the symptoms of appendicitis?
The acute attack generally starts with pain in abdomen. The pain is initially around the umbilicus (belly"s button) & is vague. Later the pain becomes intense & is felt in the right lower abdomen. This may also be accompanied by vomiting.

What is the treatment of an acute episode of appendicitis?
A patient of acute appendicitis needs admission in the hospital. Early cases are managed operatively. However later (generally after 72 hours), the patient is not operated as the risk of complications are higher. In such cases the patient is managed conservatively (i.e. without an operation). Such patients however do need an operation later.

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