Angie's got an Itis - Appendicitis

by Shelley White

Angie's got a colicky pain
In the middle of her tum
So far, it's not too sore
No need to tell her Mum.

The pain that grips her abdomen -
It tends to come and go -
It's been going on for hours now,
Settled on the right, quite low.

She starts to feel a little sick
and doesn't want her dinner
She rushes to the toilet
because of diarrhoea.

She looks quite flushed and feverish
Her tongue's furry and dry
She lies still taking shallow breaths
The pain makes Angie cry.

More hours pass, the pain gets worse,
Mum calls Angie for her tea
'I couldn't eat a single thing
I keep feeling I need a wee.'

Mum gets somewhat worried
She wonders what it is
That's causing her little cherub
To get in such a tizz.

Could it be food poisoning
Caused by a dodgy stew?
Could it be cystitis?
No - she'd have pain when weeing too!

Grandma sticks her oar in -
'Why don't you use your brains?
Anyone can see the cause
Is surely period pains.'

But Grandma's diagnosis
Turned out to be a joke
When the pain stopped griping,
Became nagging, sore to poke.

Mum stares hard at Gran
'Her period was last week!
I'm going to call the nurse
for the advice that we seek.'

Soon Mum has the answer
To the tricky tummy question
It's not a tummy bug
And it's not indigestion.

Appendicitis is the reason
Angie's having so much pain
It seems like other ailments
So diagnosis isn't plain.

Really it's inflammation
Affecting the appendix -
Low down in your tum
It feels like you've been kicked.

The appendix looks like a little worm
In animals it plays a vital part
In digestion of vegetable matter
But in humans it's more a 'spare part'.

It's unclear why infection occurs
But one theory suggests this cause -
Bacteria normally found in the gut
Invade through the appendix walls.

Antibiotics won't cure this
Medical attention's needed quickly
Namely surgery to remove the appendix
It's called an 'appendicectomy'.

Otherwise the appendix could burst
And infection could be spread
This would be an emergency
Requiring a hospital bed.

It's three days since she had her op,
She's made a good recovery
She's back to eating things she likes
Says 'Ice cream and chips are lov-e-ly!'

Mum watches her for a week or two
Makes sure the op wound heals
No further pain or indigestion
After Angie's had her meals.