As anyone who has studied anatomy will tell you, your appendix lies in the bottom right-hand area of your abdomen, at the beginning of the colon, close to where the large and small intestines meet. A normal appendix is about 11cm in length and has an average diameter of 8mm.
Little is known, however, about the role the appendix plays in our physiology.
There are various theories regarding the actual function of the organ. Some believe that it is an evolutionary throwback from some remote ancestor. Expanding on this theory, many scientists, Charles Darwin included, believed that the appendix was used as part of an intestine that helped to break down cellulose when our primate ancestors lived on a diet rich in foliage and bark. As humans evolved, the appendix became redundant and shrunk to what it is today.
But the belief that the appendix no longer plays any role in our bodies is being debunked. Recent research has shown that the organ plays an important role in our immune system. The wall of the appendix contains lymphatic tissue that produces antibodies, and it also stores the “good” bacteria we need to fight off infections. It is also known to boost the large intestine’s immunity to certain food and medications.
The only time a person becomes acutely aware of their appendix is when the organ becomes inflamed, which leads to an extremely painful condition that is responsible for more emergency surgery than any other: acute appendicitis.
Global statistics show that one in 15 people will develop appendicitis in their lifetime, and people between the ages of 10 and 30 are most prone to the condition. But it may happen to anyone without warning, which is why Nasa is considering preventative appendectomies for astronauts before they embark on future space missions.
Appendicitis is a dangerous condition. It usually occurs when the appendix becomes infected and blocked by a build-up of thick mucus, faeces or some foreign object such as parasitical worms.
As the obstruction causes the bacteria to multiply, the appendix swells, which cuts off the blood supply to its wall. Left untreated, this will eventually cause the organ to rupture. When this happens, the patient is in mortal danger because the infection spreads quickly into the abdominal cavity, a condition called peritonitis. At this stage, emergency surgery is the patient’s only option for survival.
So what are the signs and symptoms of appendicitis? The first indication is abdominal pain, which is often difficult to pinpoint initially. But then it seems the pain becomes more localised and can be felt at a point that is halfway between one’s upper right pelvic bone and belly button (the so-called McBurney’s point).
There could also be symptoms such as swelling of the abdomen, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, frequent urination and a low-grade fever. Atypical symptoms are encountered when the appendix does not lie in its usual position in the right iliac fossa.
There is a worrying increase in the number of people succumbing to appendicitis in South Africa. This is in stark contrast to studies going back decades, which indicated that the condition used to be a rarity among rural Africans.
Prevalence among urban Africans was only slightly higher but higher still among the coloured and Indian population, and highest of all among whites.
Evidence suggests that the occurrence of appendicitis rises with improvements in socioeconomic circumstances. This could well be attributed to diet, especially as the majority of South Africa’s population moves away from the traditional low-fat, high-fibre diet to a Western diet that is not so healthy. It is a rather sad price to pay for living in the so-called developed world.
Appendicitis will be discussed on SABC2’s Bonitas House Call on June 25 at 9am.
This article originally appeared in the Mail & Guardian newspaper as a sponsored feature.