Which condition is inflammation of the appendix?

• A. Appendicitis
• B. Diverticulitis
• C. Colitis
• D. Diarrhea

Answer: (A)

Organ-specific inflammation is being tested here: inflammation of the appendix is called appendicitis. The appendix is a small pouch attached to the cecum, and when it becomes inflamed—often from blockage by a small piece of stool or lymphoid tissue—it triggers pain that usually starts around the navel and then moves to the right lower quadrant, often with fever, nausea, and loss of appetite. If not treated promptly, the inflamed tissue can swell and potentially rupture, leading to more serious problems. The other terms describe inflammation of different parts or a symptom rather than the appendix itself: diverticulitis is inflammation of diverticula in the colon (usually the sigmoid colon), colitis is inflammation of the colon, and diarrhea is a common symptom that can accompany many conditions but isn’t itself inflammation of the appendix.