Should you avoid certain foods if you have chronic appendicitis?

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on November 12, 2024
00:00
00:00

The majority of chronic appendicitis is transformed from acute appendicitis after treatment. Clinically, it mainly manifests as recurrent pain and discomfort in the lower right abdomen. In cases of chronic appendicitis, it is important to pay attention to a reasonable diet, avoid overeating and the consumption of gastrointestinal irritants, including spicy foods and some hard, cold foods, as these can induce pain in the lower right abdomen. Additionally, the diet should be low in sodium, sugar, and fat. Consumable options may include liquid or semi-liquid foods, as well as foods like yogurt. It is also advisable to eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and anti-inflammatory substances, such as apples, bananas, cabbage, and cauliflower.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
1min 1sec home-news-image

Appendicitis CT manifestations

Appendicitis on a CT scan presents with thickening of the appendix at the ileocecal area, pericecal fluid, high-density shadows in the appendiceal lumen and at its base, and an appendicolith. Clinical manifestations of appendicitis include referred pain in the lower right abdomen, and the examination and form of abdominal pain are important bases for diagnosing appendicitis. Combined with routine blood tests showing high levels of white blood cells and neutrophils, this indicates an inflammatory infection. Diagnosis of appendicitis can be confirmed with an abdominal CT or an ultrasound of the appendix area. Appendicitis is categorized as either acute uncomplicated appendicitis or acute gangrenous appendicitis. Acute uncomplicated appendicitis typically has good treatment outcomes and quick recovery; in contrast, conservative treatment for gangrenous appendicitis is generally less effective, necessitating surgical intervention.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
46sec home-news-image

Acute appendicitis pain level

The pain of acute appendicitis is mainly abdominal pain. Currently, there are no available data for reference to understand the level of pain in appendicitis, and the pain associated with acute appendicitis is related to the individual's constitution and the extent of inflammation in the appendix. If the inflammation is mild, limited only to the serosal layer, then the pain is relatively mild and tolerable. If the inflammation is more extensive or involves pus formation, perforation, and affects the peritoneum, it leads to noticeable peritonitis and causes severe, knife-like pain, making the patient scared to move and covered in profuse sweat; the pain is quite severe. For acute appendicitis, surgery is currently advocated as the treatment method.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
48sec home-news-image

Should you avoid certain foods if you have chronic appendicitis?

The majority of chronic appendicitis is transformed from acute appendicitis after treatment. Clinically, it mainly manifests as recurrent pain and discomfort in the lower right abdomen. In cases of chronic appendicitis, it is important to pay attention to a reasonable diet, avoid overeating and the consumption of gastrointestinal irritants, including spicy foods and some hard, cold foods, as these can induce pain in the lower right abdomen. Additionally, the diet should be low in sodium, sugar, and fat. Consumable options may include liquid or semi-liquid foods, as well as foods like yogurt. It is also advisable to eat fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and anti-inflammatory substances, such as apples, bananas, cabbage, and cauliflower.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
45sec home-news-image

Does chronic appendicitis cause fever?

Chronic appendicitis typically presents clinically as recurring pain and discomfort in the lower right abdomen. Usually, there are no signs of fever with chronic appendicitis. Only when the inflammation of chronic appendicitis is uncontrolled might a low-grade fever occur. Sometimes, when chronic appendicitis undergoes an acute episode and becomes a purulent infection, high fever can occur. In such cases of chronic appendicitis with high fever, complications like appendix perforation, diffuse peritonitis, and septicemia can arise. Therefore, if fever occurs in chronic appendicitis, timely anti-infection treatment should be administered. If the infection is not well-controlled, timely surgical treatment is recommended.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
51sec home-news-image

Causes of Appendicitis

Appendicitis is caused by both anatomical factors of the body and lifestyle dietary patterns. The appendix is a tube that is open at one end and closed at the other, communicating with the cecum. Due to its narrow and long nature, it is easy for fecal matter to block the appendix, leading to increased pressure within the tube, mucosal ischemia necrosis, and subsequently triggering inflammation. Additionally, irregular eating habits, such as binge eating, habitual drinking, and consumption of spicy food, can provoke inflammation of the appendix. Once appendicitis is diagnosed, it is mostly treated surgically. The laparoscopic appendectomy is commonly used nowadays, which is a minimally invasive treatment that allows for a faster recovery and leaves smaller scars on the body surface.