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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Appendicitis causes

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Common causes of appendicitis include obstructive fecaliths, parasitic or bacterial infections of the appendix, trauma, and lymphadenitis.

Causes

Causes

Common Causes

Common causes of appendicitis include:[1]

  • Foreign bodies
  • Trauma
  • Intestinal worms
  • Lymphadenitis
  • The occurrence of an obstructing fecalith
    • The occurrence of a fecalith in the appendix seems to be attributed to a right sided fecal retention reservoir in the colon and a prolonged fecal transit time.[2]
  • Low dietary fiber intake
    • Several studies offer evidence that a low fiber intake is involved in the pathogenesis of appendicitis.[3][4][5]
    • This link between low fiber intake and appendicitis is in accordance with the occurrence of a right sided fecal reservoir and that dietary fiber reduces fecal transit time.[6]
  • Appendicolith
  • Ascariasis
  • Bacteroides
  • Taenia infection
References

References

  1. ↑ Appendicitis. Wikipedia (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appendicitis#Causes Accessed on February 29, 2016
  2. ↑ Raahave D, Christensen E, Moeller H. Origin of acute appendicitis: Fecal retention in colonic reservoirs: A case control study. Surg Infect 2007;8:55-61
  3. ↑ Burkitt DP, Walker ARP, Painter NS. Effect of dietary fibre on stools and transit-times, and its role in the causation of disease. Lancet 1972;300:1408-12
  4. ↑ Adamis D, Roma-Giannikou E, Karamolegou K. Fiber intake and childhood appendicitis. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2000;51:153-7
  5. ↑ Hugh TB, Hugh TJ, “Appendicectomy — becoming a rare event?” MJA 2001; 175: 7-8
  6. ↑ Gear JSS, Brodribb AJM, Ware A. Fibre and bowel transit times. Br J Nutr 1981;45:77-82

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Farwa Haideri [2]