Appendicitis Explained After Noa Kirel’s Honeymoon Cut Short

The report was prompted by news that singer Noa Kirel had to end her honeymoon and fly back to Israel on a special flight after developing appendicitis. To explain the condition, N12 spoke with Dr. Asher Fein, a general, trauma and emergency surgeon at Assuta Ashdod Public Medical Center.

Fein said appendicitis is usually caused by a blockage at the appendix opening, most often by a small piece of stool. The pain typically starts suddenly near the navel and then moves to and settles in the lower right side of the abdomen. If the pain does not ease with painkillers, he said, that raises suspicion of appendicitis.

He said the condition cannot really be prevented, though Western diets are associated with a higher risk and the condition is less common in less developed countries. If symptoms continue for more than 24 hours, the appendix can perforate and lead to an abscess and inflammation of the peritoneum, a more complicated form of appendicitis, though Fein said that outcome is uncommon.

Fein urged anyone with the typical lower-right abdominal pain pattern to seek urgent medical care. He also noted that the appendix is a small organ attached to the right side of the large intestine, and that appendectomy is a very common emergency operation, with rapid recovery in most laparoscopic cases.