Appendicitis (ICD-10-GM K35.-: Acute appendicitis) is the inflammation of the appendix vermiformis. It is also colloquially referred to as appendicitis, but this is not medically correct. A “true” inflammation of the appendix is called typhilitis.
Appendicitis is the most common cause of an acute abdomen, which is a life-threatening condition. It usually requires emergency surgical intervention.
Peak incidence: the disease occurs predominantly in childhood and in the 2nd and 3rd decades of life. The peak age is between the 10th and 19th year of life. Nearly 40% of all appendectomies (surgical removal of the inflamed appendix) are in the 5-19 year age group and nearly 60% are in the 5-29 year age group.
The lifetime prevalence (incidence of disease throughout life) is 7-8% (in Germany).
The incidence (frequency of new cases) is approximately 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year (in Germany).
Course and prognosis: Appendicitis can have a mild course. However, it can also be a severe inflammation of the appendix. In about 20% of cases there is a “complicated appendicitis”, i.e. occurrence of a perforation (breakthrough into the abdominal cavity), formation of an abscess (pus cavity) or a conglomerate with local or generalized peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum). Appendicitis usually requires appendectomy. Perforation (“rupture of the appendix”) is found in about 28% of patients during surgery.
The lethality (mortality related to the total number of people suffering from the disease) in uncomplicated appendicitis is less than 0.001%. In a complicated course with perforation, it is approximately 1%.
