Folliculitis

Posted on March 13, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Folliculitis is a common skin condition in which hair follicles become infected or inflamed.

Folliculitis can look similar to acne and be uncomfortable or itchy, and because of its appearance, it can often have a psychosocial impact.

The two main forms of folliculitis are superficial and deep. The superficial form involves part of the follicle, while the deep form involves the entire follicle and is usually more severe.

There are many different types of folliculitis. Each type is unique based on the cause, the infectious organism, and its impact on the skin. The different types of folliculitis include:

Bacterial folliculitis
Hot tub rash
Malassezia folliculitis
Razor bumps
Sycosis barbae
Gram-negative folliculitis
Boils
Carbuncles
Eosinophilic folliculitis

Folliculitis appears anywhere on the body that has hair, such as the face, arms, upper back, and lower legs. Hair follicles can gather bacteria and other materials from the outside world that could cause inflammation or infection. When something is inflamed, it is swollen. A swollen hair follicle will bulge up and make a bump on the skin. If you have an infected hair follicle, you may experience:

Redness
Irritation
Itching
Bumps on the skin

Folliculitis is caused when a hair follicle is inflamed or infected with bacteria, commonly Staphylococcus aureus. This causes the follicle to swell under the skin, creating uncomfortable bumps on the surface. For many specific types of folliculitis, the cause isn’t always known. However, certain factors can increase the risk of developing this condition, including:

If you shave often
If you have been using an oral antibiotic for a long time
If you are overweight or obese
If you do activities that make you sweat a lot and don’t fully clean off afterward
If you spend time in a hot tub or sauna that isn’t properly cleaned

Signs and symptoms of folliculitis include:

Clusters of small bumps of pimples around hair follicles
Pus-filled blisters that break open and crust over
Itchy, burning skin
Painful, tender skin
An inflamed bump

To diagnose folliculitis, a healthcare provider will examine your skin and ask about your medical history. If early treatments don’t clear up the infection, the healthcare provider will run tests, including:

Scraping the skin to look for yeast under the microscope
They may take a swab for culture to determine the cause of the infection
In rare cases, they may do a skin biopsy to rule out other conditions

Treatment for folliculitis depends on the type and severity of the condition, what self-care measures were tried, and how you would like to proceed.

If you have tried nonprescription products for a few weeks and they haven’t helped, ask a healthcare provider about prescription-strength medications. A dermatologist can help you:

Control your folliculitis
Figure out whether a drug you take might be causing your symptoms and whether you can stop taking it
Avoid scarring or other damage to the skin
Make scars less noticeable

There are many ways that you can prevent folliculitis, including the following:

Washing your skin regularly
Doing laundry regularly
Avoiding friction or pressure on your skin
Avoiding shaving, if possible
Shaving with care
Trying hair-removing products or other methods of hair removal
Treating related conditions
Using only clean hot tubs and heated pools

Sometimes, folliculitis goes away without medical treatment. Self-care measures such as applying a warm, moist washcloth to the affected skin followed by an anti-itch cream may help relieve your symptoms.

If you have symptoms of folliculitis, you can receive treatment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

The Loneliness Epidemic

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

In May 2023, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a report that drew attention to an epidemic that affects half of American adults: loneliness and social isolation.

Dr. Murthy said that loneliness and social isolation are “urgent public health concerns, more widespread than smoking, diabetes, or anxiety”.

Loneliness is feeling lonely or disconnected from others and not having meaningful or close relationships or a sense of belonging. It also describes the negative feelings that can occur when your needs for social connection aren’t met.

Social isolation is when a person doesn’t have relationships or contact with others and has little to no social support. It can pose a health risk to people, even if they don’t feel lonely.

Certain conditions or experiences may increase a person’s risk of social isolation and loneliness, including:

Having a mental or physical challenge, such as:
- Chronic disease or condition
- Psychiatric or depressive condition
- Long-term disability
Being marginalized or discriminated against
Having limited or no access to resources, which may result in:
- Living in rural areas
- Limited transportation
- Language barriers
- Being a victim of violence or abuse
Facing a divorce, unemployment, or the loss of a loved one

Loneliness may impact some groups more than others, including:

Low-income adults
Young adults
Older adults
Adults living alone
Immigrants
People who identify as LGBTQ+

Social isolation and loneliness can increase a person’s risk for:

Heart disease and stroke
Type 2 diabetes
Depression, anxiety, suicide, and self-harm
Dementia
Earlier death

It is important to make meaningful social connections, as those who do experience benefits, including:

Less stress
Better sleep
A longer, healthier life

Making social connections can be hard, especially if you are in poor health, have money problems, or live alone. However, a few small acts of connection can build supportive and meaningful relationships.

You can take various steps to fight against loneliness, including the following:

Talking to family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers
Connecting with others on social media
Volunteering in your community
Being kind to yourself
Learning more about ways to improve social connectedness
Getting help from a professional

To find out more about Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s outpatient mental health services or to schedule a virtual appointment, please call (718) 670-5316 to speak with our intake coordinator or (718) 670-5562 to reach the clinic.

What to Expect During a CT Scan

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

A computerized tomography scan, or CT scan, is a type of imaging procedure that uses X-ray and computer technology to create cross-sectional images, also called slices, of the bones, blood vessels, and soft tissues inside the body. CT scan images show more detail than plain X-rays do.

CT scans help healthcare providers detect diseases and injuries and plan medical, surgical, or radiation treatment.

A healthcare professional may suggest a CT scan for many reasons. A CT scan can help:

Diagnose muscle and bone conditions, such as bone tumors and fractures
Show where a tumor, infection, or blood clot is
Guide procedures such as surgery, biopsy, and radiation therapy
Find and watch the progress of diseases and conditions such as cancer, heart disease, lung nodules, and liver masses.
Watch how well certain treatments, such as cancer treatment, work
Find injuries and bleeding inside the body that can happen after trauma

Your healthcare provider will tell you everything you need to know about CT scan preparation. Some general guidelines include:

Plan to arrive early. Your provider will tell you when to come to your appointment
Don’t eat for four hours before your CT scan
Drink only clear liquids in the two hours leading up to your appointment
Wear comfortable clothes and remove any metal jewelry or clothing. Your provider may give you a hospital gown to wear

During the test, you will lie on your back on a table. If your test requires it, a healthcare provider may inject contrast dye intravenously. This dye can make you feel flushed or give you a metallic taste in your mouth. When the scan begins:

The bed will slowly move in the doughnut-shaped scanner. At this point, you will need to stay as still as possible because movement can blur the images
You may also be asked to hold your breath for a short period, usually fewer than 15 to 20 seconds
The scanner takes pictures of the area your healthcare provider needs to see. Unlike an MRI scan, a CT scan is silent
When the exam is over, the table moves back out of the scanner

You can have a CT scan in a hospital or an outpatient facility. CT scans usually take about an hour. However, with newer machines, scans can take only a few minutes. The whole process can take about 30 minutes.

After the exam, you can return to your normal routine. If you were given contrast dye, you may be asked to wait a short time before leaving to ensure that you feel okay after the exam. You might be told to drink lots of fluids to help your kidneys remove the dye from your body.

CT images are stored as electronic data files. They’re most often reviewed on a computer screen. A radiologist looks at the images and creates a report that is kept in your medical records. It usually takes about 24 to 48 hours to get the results of your CT scan. Your healthcare professional talks with you about the results.

To schedule an appointment with the Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Radiology Department, call 718- 670-5458. To schedule an appointment for a CT scan or for more information about CT scans, please call 718-670-8851.

Bleeding Disorders

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Bleeding disorders are a group of conditions that affect the way the body controls blood clotting. The clotting process, known as coagulation, changes blood from a liquid to a solid.

When you’re injured, your blood normally begins to clot to prevent a massive blood loss. However, these conditions prevent blood from clotting properly, which results in heavy or prolonged bleeding.

Bleeding disorders can cause abnormal bleeding outside and inside the body. Some disorders can drastically increase the amount of blood leaving the body, while others cause bleeding under the skin or in vital organs, such as the brain.

There are numerous bleeding disorders. The most common include:

Hemophilia A and B- are conditions that occur when there are low levels of clotting factors in your blood. It causes heavy or unusual bleeding in the joints. Although hemophilia is rare, it can have life-threatening complications
Factor II, V, VII, X, or XII deficiencies- are bleeding disorders related to blood clotting problems or abnormal bleeding problems
Von Willebrand’s disease- is the most common inherited bleeding disorder. It develops when the blood lacks the von Willebrand factor, which helps the blood clot

For blood to clot, the body needs blood proteins called clotting factors and blood cells called platelets. Normally, platelets clump together to form a plug at the site of a damaged or injured blood vessel. The clotting factors then combine to form a fibrin clot, keeping the platelets in place and preventing blood from flowing out of the blood vessel.

For people with bleeding disorders, however, the clotting factors or platelets don’t work the way they should or are in short supply. When the blood doesn’t clot, excessive or prolonged bleeding can occur. It can also lead to spontaneous or sudden bleeding in the muscles, joints, and other body parts.

Some bleeding disorders are present at birth and are passed down or inherited through families. However, other bleeding disorders can be caused by:

Medical conditions, such as liver disease
A low red blood cell count
A vitamin K deficiency
Side effects from certain medications

Symptoms of bleeding disorders can include:

Bruising easily
Heavy bleeding
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Nosebleeds that do not stop easily
Excessive bleeding due to surgical procedures
Umbilical cord bleeding after birth

A doctor will diagnose a bleeding disorder by asking about your symptoms and medical history. They will also perform a physical exam and run blood tests to make a proper diagnosis. These tests can include:

A complete blood count
A platelet aggregation test
A bleeding time test

Treatment options for bleeding disorders vary depending on the type of bleeding disorder and its severity. Although treatments can’t cure bleeding disorders, they can help relieve the symptoms associated with certain disorders. Treatment options include:

Iron supplementation
Blood transfusion

If you experience symptoms of a bleeding disorder, it’s important to get diagnosed as soon as possible; even if your symptoms are mild, talking to a doctor can help you avoid potential risk factors that may worsen them. You can schedule an appointment with a doctor at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486.

Stroke Treatment Options

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Strokes happen when a blood clot or broken blood vessel prevents blood from getting to your brain. The lack of blood flow deprives brain cells of the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive, causing them to die in minutes.

There are two types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic.

Ischemic strokes usually happen because a blood clot blocks a blood vessel connected to your brain. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when a blood vessel in your brain breaks or ruptures.

Strokes can be fatal. Therefore, you must know the symptoms and pay attention to them when they occur. Symptoms of strokes include:

Trouble speaking and understanding what others are saying
Numbness, weakness, or paralysis in the face, arm, or leg
Problems seeing in one or both eyes
Headaches
Trouble walking
Confusion
Dizziness or vertigo
Blurred vision or double vision
Loss of coordination

Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a stroke, even if they seem to come and go or disappear completely.

To diagnose a stroke, a healthcare provider will use a combination of neurological exams and tests that include:

Blood tests
CT scan
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
MRI
Carotid ultrasound
Cerebral angiogram

Some treatments are most effective when given soon after a stroke starts. Emergency treatment depends on whether you’re having an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

To treat an ischemic stroke, blood flow must quickly be restored to the brain. This can be done with:

Emergency IV medicine
Emergency endovascular procedures
- Medications delivered directly to the brain
- Removing the clot with a stent retriever
Other procedures, such as a carotid endarterectomy and angioplasty and stents

Emergency treatment of hemorrhagic stroke focuses on controlling the bleeding and reducing the pressure in the brain caused by excess fluid. If the area of bleeding is large, surgery may be needed to remove the blood and relieve pressure on the brain. Surgery may also be required to repair blood vessel damage due to the hemorrhagic stroke. A healthcare professional may recommend a procedure if an aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), or other blood vessel condition caused the stroke. Procedures include:

Surgical clipping
Endovascular embolization, also known as coiling
Surgical removal of a tangle of thin-walled blood vessels, known as AVM
Stereotactic radiosurgery

Stroke rehabilitation is an important part of stroke treatment. Rehabilitation will help you adjust to changes in your brain and body after a stroke. You may need to regain abilities you had before or need to adjust to new or different disabilities. You may need a combination of:

Cognitive rehabilitation
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Speech therapy

Maintaining your overall health is the best way to reduce your risk of a stroke. Some ways you can sustain your overall health include the following:

Eating plenty of healthy foods and maintaining a healthy weight
Engaging in regular physical activity
Managing your blood pressure, cholesterol, and any health conditions you may have
Quitting smoking

If you are experiencing any symptoms of a stroke, call 911 immediately. If you need assistance managing your health to prevent a stroke or maintaining your overall wellness, visit Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

Tuberculosis

Posted on February 25, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. It is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis can spread when a person with the illness coughs, sneezes, or speaks, releasing tiny droplets of germs into the air. Another person can breathe in the droplets, and the germs will enter the lungs.

When tuberculosis germs survive and multiply in the lungs, it is a TB infection. A TB infection can happen in one of three stages, each with symptoms.

Primary TB infection is the first stage of TB infection. Immune system cells find and capture the germs, which the immune system may destroy. However, some captured germs can still survive and multiply.

Most people don’t have symptoms during primary infection. Some people may have flu-like symptoms, including:

Low fever
Tiredness
Cough

Latent TB infection is the stage following primary TB infection. Immune system cells build a wall around lung tissue with TB germs, which keeps them under control. However, the germs survive. There aren’t any symptoms during latent TB infection.

Active TB disease happens when the immune system can’t control an infection. Germs cause disease throughout the lungs or other parts of the body. Active TB disease can happen right after primary infection, but it usually occurs after months or years of latent TB infection. Symptoms of active TB disease in the lungs begin gradually and worsen over a few weeks. Symptoms can include:

Cough
Coughing up blood or mucus
Chest pain
Pain with breathing or coughing
Fever
Chills
Night sweats
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Tiredness
Not feeling well in general

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis occurs when an active TB infection spreads from the lungs to other body parts. Symptoms vary depending on what part of the body is infected. Common symptoms can include:

Fever
Chills
Night sweats
Weight loss
Not wanting to eat
Tiredness
Not feeling well in general
Pain near the site of infection

Common sites of active TB disease outside of the lungs include:

Kidneys
Liver
Fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord
Heart muscles
Genitals
Lymph nodes
Bones and joints
Skin
Walls of blood vessels
The voice box or larynx

People with active TB infection can spread tuberculosis easily, especially in crowded spaces.

To diagnose a TB infection, a healthcare provider will perform an exam that includes:

Listening to you breathe with a stethoscope
Checking for swollen lymph nodes
Asking you questions about your symptoms

Your healthcare provider will order tests if:

Tuberculosis is suspected
You were likely exposed to a person with active TB disease
You have health risks for active TB disease

Your healthcare provider will determine whether a skin or blood test is best. X-rays, sputum tests, and other lab tests can also diagnose a TB infection.

Your healthcare provider may treat you with drug treatments if you have a latent TB infection. This is especially true for people who are at an increased risk of active TB disease. Most latent TB infections are treated for three or four months. Active TB may be treated for four, six, or nine months. Specialists in TB treatment will determine which drugs are best for you.

It is important to take every dose as instructed when your healthcare provider prescribes medication. You must complete the full course of treatment, as it is important for killing the bacteria in your body and preventing new drug-resistant bacteria.

If you are experiencing symptoms of tuberculosis, you must receive treatment from a doctor as soon as possible. You can schedule an appointment at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 670-5486.

Robotics: Gastric Bypass

Posted on February 19, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Gastric bypass or “Roux-en-Y” is a metabolic and weight-loss procedure that works by modifying your digestive system so that you consume and absorb fewer calories. It modifies your stomach and also your small intestines.

Similar to other bariatric surgery operations, gastric bypass is recommended for people who have clinically severe obesity. It has been shown to help relieve a long list of obesity-related health conditions, including:

Type 2 diabetes
Hypertension
Obstructive sleep apnea
GERD (chronic acid reflux)
Heart disease
Hyperglycemia
Fatty liver disease
Hyperlipidemia
Osteoarthrosis

The Roux-en-Y procedure gets its name from how it changes your digestive system. “Roux-en-Y” means “in the shape of a Y”. The procedure divides your stomach and small intestine, connecting each new segment to form a “Y” shape. This procedure reduces the functional part of your stomach to a small pouch, separating it from the rest with surgical staples, and restricting the amount of food your stomach can hold. Then, it connects the new stomach pouch to a lower segment of your small intestine. This means that when food goes through your digestive system, it will now bypass most of your stomach and the first part of your small intestine, causing your digestive system to not absorb all of the nutrients or calories in your food.

Gastric bypass surgery requirements are similar to those of other bariatric procedures. A qualified healthcare provider must recommend you for surgery. You may be a candidate for gastric bypass surgery if you:

Have been diagnosed with class III obesity
Have a BMI of at least 35 with at least one obesity-related condition
Have obesity-related type 2 diabetes

Most Roux-en-Y surgical procedures today are laparoscopic, a minimally invasive surgical technique. However, sometimes they are done with robotic assistance.

There are many potential advantages of robotic-assisted surgery over other types of surgery including:

Robot-assisted surgery provides the surgeon with 3D images of inside your abdomen that create a clearer picture for them to reference as they operate compared to the 2D images used during laparoscopic surgery
Under the surgeon’s direction, the robot can move more freely and with more versatility than a human hand
You’ll have a few tiny scars rather than one large incision scar (as with open surgery)
You’re more likely to experience less pain and less bleeding after surgery compared to open surgery
You’re more likely to have a quicker recovery time than with open surgery

To learn more about the robotic surgical procedures at Flushing Hospital Medical Center or to schedule an appointment, call (718) 670-5000.

Signs Your Blood Sugar is Too High

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Hyperglycemia, also known as high blood sugar, is common in people who have diabetes. It occurs when too much sugar (glucose) is in the blood and the body has too little insulin or if the body can’t use insulin properly to regulate blood sugar levels.

People with diabetes can experience hyperglycemia episodes frequently.

Hyperglycemia usually doesn’t cause symptoms until blood sugar levels are high – above 180 to 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 10 to 11.1 millimoles per liter (mmol/L).

Symptoms for hyperglycemia develop slowly over several days or weeks. The longer sugar levels stay high, the more serious symptoms can become. However, some people who’ve had type 2 diabetes for a long time may not show any symptoms despite high blood sugar levels. Early symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

Frequent urination
Increased thirst
Blurred vision
Feeling weak or unusually tired
Headache

Recognizing early symptoms of hyperglycemia can help identify and treat it right away.

If hyperglycemia isn’t treated, it can cause toxic acids called ketones, to build up in the blood and urine. This condition is called ketoacidosis. Symptoms include:

Fruity-smelling breath
Dry mouth
Abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Shortness of breath
Confusion or disorientation
Loss of consciousness
Dehydration
Rapid heartbeat

Hyperglycemia most often results from a lack of insulin. This happens due to insulin resistance and/or issues with the pancreas, the organ that makes insulin.

However, other hormones can contribute to the development of hyperglycemia as well. Excess of the stress hormone cortisol or the growth hormone can lead to high blood sugar.

Chronic hyperglycemia over the years can damage blood vessels and tissues in your body. This can lead to a variety of complications, including:

Retinopathy
Nephropathy
Neuropathy
Gastroparesis
Heart disease
Stroke

Hyperglycemia is diagnosed when a healthcare provider orders blood work to screen for the condition and diagnose diabetes. These tests may include:

Fasting glucose tests.
Glucose tolerance tests.
A1c test.

Injected insulin is the main way to treat hyperglycemia episodes. Everyone requires different doses. Your healthcare provider will work with you to determine which dose is best to treat and prevent high blood sugar. Dietary changes and exercise plans can also help manage your blood sugar to prevent hyperglycemia.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of hyperglycemia, you can receive treatment from an endocrinologist at Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486.

The Link between Alcohol and Cancer

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

The Office of the Surgeon General recently issued an advisory calling for updated warnings on alcoholic beverages, cautioning that the consumption of alcohol heightens the risk of several types of cancer.

The current labels on alcoholic beverages warn about drinking while pregnant, drinking while driving, and operating machinery, as well as other general “health risks”. The Office of the Surgeon General noted that alcohol consumption contributes to approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer-related deaths each year. Therefore, the public needs to be warned about the link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancer.

Alcohol has been classified as a carcinogen “primarily due to its metabolite, acetaldehyde, which has the ability to bind to DNA and potentially cause mutations”, says Dr. Vasilis Vasiliou PhD, chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences and the Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health. Acetaldehyde may also increase the risk of aerodigestive cancers, which are cancers that affect the upper respiratory and digestive tracts. Aerodigestive cancers include cancer of the lip, tongue, salivary glands, and other oral and nasal regions. “Furthermore, acetaldehyde may have a more pronounced effect on individuals with mutations in DNA-repair enzymes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Mutations in these BRCA1 and BRCA2 enzymes can increase the risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer”, Dr. Vasiliou says.

Dr. Vasiliou acknowledges that the adverse effects of alcohol are significantly influenced by the dose-response relationship, which considers both the quantity of alcohol consumed daily and the duration of consumption over time. These factors, along with co-exposures to environmental contaminants, play a pivotal role in determining the severity of alcohol-related risks. Such interactions suggest that alcohol’s harmful effects cannot be fully understood in isolation but should instead be evaluated within the broader context of combined exposures to other environmental and lifestyle-related carcinogens.

Dr. Vasiliou offers this advice when it pertains to alcohol and its link to cancer:

Do not start drinking for health reasons
Limit consumption
Consider personal and family health risks
Seek non-alcoholic sources of antioxidants

Synergistic interactions with other environmental carcinogens and lifestyle factors influence the risk of cancer from alcohol consumption. Reducing alcohol intake, alongside minimizing exposure to other known carcinogens such as tobacco smoke, environmental pollutants, and chemical toxins, is a critical strategy for lowering overall cancer risk. Comprehensive prevention efforts should address not only alcohol consumption but also broader environmental and lifestyle factors.

Appendicitis

Posted on February 6, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes clogged, infected, and inflamed. It can cause acute pain in your lower abdomen, however, for most people, pain begins around the belly button and then moves. As inflammation worsens, appendicitis pain typically increases and eventually becomes serious.

Symptoms of appendicitis include:

Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower belly
Sudden pain that begins around the belly button and often shifts to the lower right belly
Pain that worsens with coughing, walking, or making other jarring movements
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Low-grade fever that may rise as the illness worsens
Constipation or diarrhea
Belly bloating
Gas

Additional symptoms that may develop later in some people can include:

Malaise
Urinary symptoms- needing to go more frequently or more urgently
Bowel paralysis

The size and location of the appendix make it easy for it to become clogged and infected. Your large intestine is home to many bacteria. If they become trapped in your appendix, they overgrow and cause an infection. The bacteria then multiplies quickly causing the appendix to become inflamed and filled with pus. If it is not treated right away, the appendix may burst or break open.

Some common causes of inflammation, swelling, obstruction, and infection in your appendix include:

Hardened poop (appendix stones)
Lymphoid hyperplasia
Colitis

Other factors that could block the opening of your appendix can include:

Tumors
Parasites
Cystic fibrosis

Risk factors for appendicitis include:

Age – anyone can develop appendicitis, but it most often happens in people between the ages of 10 and 30
Your sex – men have a slightly higher risk of appendicitis than women

To help diagnose appendicitis, a healthcare provider will likely take a history of symptoms and examine the abdomen. Tests used to diagnose appendicitis can include:

A physical exam
Blood tests
Urine tests
Imaging tests

Appendicitis may spontaneously resolve if the cause suddenly goes away on its own. This might happen if an obstruction in your appendix gets unblocked and passes through the intestines, or if an infection causing lymphoid hyperplasia in your appendix suddenly improves. However, you shouldn’t assume this will happen or that it has happened, even if your pain has reduced.

The standard treatment includes medicine such as antibiotics and surgery to remove the appendix. Appendicitis is considered an emergency, so it is treated in the emergency room.

If you are experiencing symptoms of appendicitis, visit Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5486. If there is an emergency, please call 911.