What are the symptoms of appendicitis? What causes appendicitis? How can appendicitis be treated? Get the answers to these questions and more in our comprehensive guide on appendicitis.

Overview of Appendicitis

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a small, finger-shaped pouch located at the junction of the small and large intestines. It is a common medical condition that can occur at any age, but is most prevalent in children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 20 years. Appendicitis is a serious condition that requires prompt medical treatment to prevent the appendix from rupturing, which can lead to life-threatening complications.

Causes of Appendicitis

The exact cause of appendicitis is not fully understood, but it is believed to be triggered by an infection or obstruction within the appendix. Common causes of appendicitis include:

• Blockage of the appendix by stool, a foreign object, or swollen lymphoid tissue
• Bacterial or viral infections
• Inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis

When the appendix becomes blocked, bacteria can build up inside, leading to inflammation and swelling. If left untreated, the appendix can eventually rupture, causing a serious infection known as peritonitis.

Symptoms of Appendicitis

The classic symptoms of appendicitis include:

1. Pain that starts around the belly button and then moves to the lower right abdomen
2. Nausea and vomiting
3. Abdominal tenderness, especially when the lower right abdomen is pressed
4. Fever
5. Decreased appetite
6. Constipation or diarrhea

It’s important to note that not everyone with appendicitis will experience these classic symptoms, especially in children, the elderly, and individuals with certain medical conditions. In these cases, the symptoms may be more atypical or subtle, making the diagnosis more challenging.

Diagnosing Appendicitis

If appendicitis is suspected, a healthcare provider will typically perform a physical examination and order one or more diagnostic tests, such as:

• Blood tests to check for signs of infection
• Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI, to examine the appendix and surrounding areas
• A rectal exam to check for tenderness or a mass in the lower right abdomen

Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent the appendix from rupturing, which can lead to a life-threatening infection.

Treatment of Appendicitis

The main treatment for appendicitis is the surgical removal of the appendix, a procedure known as an appendectomy. This is typically performed as an emergency surgery to prevent the appendix from rupturing. In some cases, non-surgical treatment with antibiotics may be an option, especially if the appendicitis is caught early and the appendix has not yet ruptured.

After an appendectomy, the patient will typically need to stay in the hospital for a few days to recover. The recovery process can take several weeks, during which the patient may need to rest, avoid strenuous activities, and follow a special diet.

Complications of Appendicitis

If left untreated, appendicitis can lead to serious complications, including:

• Rupture of the appendix, which can cause a life-threatening infection called peritonitis
• Abscess formation, which can lead to a localized collection of pus in the abdomen
• Sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition in which the body has an extreme response to an infection

Prompt treatment is essential to prevent these complications and improve the prognosis for individuals with appendicitis.

Risk Factors for Appendicitis

While anyone can develop appendicitis, certain factors can increase the risk, including:

• Age: Appendicitis is most common in children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 20 years.
• Gender: Appendicitis is slightly more common in people assigned male at birth.
• Family history: Having a close relative with a history of appendicitis may increase your risk.
• Certain medical conditions: Individuals with cystic fibrosis or inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, have a higher risk of developing appendicitis.

Understanding these risk factors can help individuals and healthcare providers be more vigilant in monitoring for the signs and symptoms of appendicitis.

Causes, Symptoms, Recovery, and Survival

Untreated appendicitis may cause your appendix to rupture (burst), resulting in an infection. Symptoms associated with a ruptured appendix include severe abdominal pain, fever, chills, and weakness.

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. This small, thin, finger-shaped sac is located on the lower right side of your abdomen, where your small and large intestines connect. Most doctors think the appendix doesn’t have an important function and can be removed without causing harmful effects.

If your appendicitis is left untreated, your appendix can rupture (burst). When this happens, bacteria get released into your abdomen and can cause a serious infection.

A ruptured appendix, also known as a perforated appendix, can make you very sick and is sometimes hard to treat.

The risk of rupture increases the longer that appendicitis treatment is delayed. The risk is about 2% 36 hours after symptoms start. After that, the risk increases by about 5% every 12 hours.

The biggest risk factor for a ruptured appendix is delaying treatment for appendicitis. The longer you wait to address your symptoms, the higher your risk.

According to a 2018 literature review, younger children are more likely to have a ruptured appendix than older children. This is because they have more trouble explaining their appendicitis symptoms to others.

The exact cause of appendicitis is unknown, but experts think an infection triggers inflammation inside the appendix.

For instance, If something blocks the opening of the appendix, an infection can follow. Bacteria can get trapped inside the appendix and multiply quickly, causing appendicitis. Viruses, parasites, and stool buildup may cause the blockages and infections that result in appendicitis. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is another possible cause of appendicitis.

When appendicitis isn’t treated promptly and correctly, bacteria or pus build up. As this happens, pressure increases and the appendix swells. Eventually, it swells so much that the blood supply to part of the appendix gets cut off. That part of the appendix wall dies, and a hole or tear develops in the dead wall. The high pressure pushes the bacteria and pus into the abdominal cavity.

A ruptured appendix usually oozes or leaks into the abdomen instead of bursting like a balloon.

Risk factors for appendicitis

Appendicitis can happen at any age, but it often affects children and teens between the ages of 10 and 20 years. It’s more common in people who were assigned male at birth.

Having other family members with appendicitis can increase your risk too. Children with cystic fibrosis are also more likely to have appendicitis.

Was this helpful?

Appendicitis symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions that affect the abdomen, such as a stomach virus or an ovarian cyst. For this reason, it can be hard to tell if you have appendicitis.

The classic symptoms of appendicitis are pain starting around the belly button and then vomiting. Several hours later, the pain moves to the lower right abdomen.

If you have these symptoms and think it might be appendicitis, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Quick treatment is essential to avoid a rupture.

Other symptoms of appendicitis include:

• abdominal pain that may start in the upper or middle abdomen but usually settles in the lower right abdomen
• abdominal pain that increases when you walk, stand, jump, cough, or sneeze
• a bloated or swollen abdomen
• tenderness when you push on your abdomen, which may get worse when you quickly stop pressing on it
• an inability to pass gas
• fever
• nausea along with vomiting
• decreased appetite
• constipation or diarrhea

Keep in mind that not everyone who gets appendicitis has these classic symptoms. It’s common for kids and older adults to have more unusual symptoms.

In babies and children, the pain is often spread out all over the abdomen. Caregivers should look for pain that starts around the child’s belly button and moves to the right side, along with appetite loss and fever.

In older people, the abdomen may be less tender, and pain may be less severe.

Appendicitis inflames the appendix and causes it to swell. Without treatment, the pressure eventually reaches the point where the appendix bursts. This can happen as quickly as 48 to 72 hours after your symptoms start.

Once your appendix ruptures, you may have a variety of symptoms. At first, you may feel better for a few hours because the high pressure in your appendix is gone, along with your original symptoms.

Peritonitis

When bacteria leave the intestine and enter the abdominal cavity, the lining of your abdominal cavity becomes inflamed. This condition is called peritonitis.

Peritonitis can be very serious and very painful. It requires immediate treatment.

The symptoms of peritonitis are similar to those of appendicitis, except:

• the pain is in your whole abdomen
• the pain is constant and more severe
• your fever is often higher
• your breathing and heart rate may be fast because of fever, infection, or severe pain
• you may have other symptoms, including chills, weakness, and confusion

Abscess

When you have an infection in your abdomen, the surrounding tissues sometimes try to wall off the infection from the rest of your abdomen. The wall forms an abscess, a closed-off collection of bacteria and pus.

Symptoms of an abscess are also similar to those of appendicitis, except:

• the pain may be in one area (but not always the lower right abdomen), or it may be in your entire abdomen
• the pain can be either a dull ache or sharp and stabbing
• the fever doesn’t go away, even when you take antibiotics
• you may have other symptoms, such as chills and weakness

Sepsis

When left untreated, the bacteria from a ruptured appendix can enter your bloodstream, causing a serious condition called sepsis. Sepsis is inflammation throughout your entire body.

Symptoms of sepsis include:

• fever or a low temperature
• fast heartbeat and breathing
• chills
• weakness
• confusion
• low blood pressure

The treatment for a ruptured appendix is to remove your appendix with surgery.

Doctors sometimes wait to perform surgery on a child who isn’t in any immediate danger. The surgeon will drain infected fluid from the abdomen, have the child take antibiotics, and remove the appendix later. The name for delayed surgery is interval appendectomy.

Peritonitis

The treatment for peritonitis is to clean bacteria out of the abdomen during surgery.

You’ll usually get antibiotics through a vein, at least for the first few days. You may need to receive hospital treatment for 10 to 14 days to ensure the infection is gone.

Abscess

Often, your appendix will be removed right away. If there’s a large abscess, your doctor might want to drain it before surgery. A tube inserted into the abscess lets the bacteria- and pus-filled fluid drain out.

This process can take several weeks. You might go home with the drain in place, and you’ll need to take antibiotics while the drain stays in place.

Once the abscess is drained and the infection and inflammation are controlled, your doctor will perform your surgery.

Sepsis

Antibiotics are the main treatment for sepsis. It’s important to start taking these medications as soon as possible, because the infection is life threatening if left untreated.

Duration of treatment may vary, but shorter treatment courses are generally preferred, according to a 2020 study.

You’ll need to take antibiotics once your ruptured appendix is removed or a drain is put into an abscess. You’ll typically take antibiotics before, during, and after surgery.

The length of antibiotic treatment will vary. Your surgeon will analyze your case to determine the best plan for you.

One 2021 study recommended that postsurgical antibiotic treatment be limited to 3 to 6 days.

Open surgery (instead of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery) is typically used for a ruptured appendix. It helps your doctor ensure all of the infection is cleaned out.

After surgery, you’ll need to keep the incision clean and dry. Avoid taking a bath or shower until your doctor says it’s fine to do so.

It can take up to 6 weeks to fully recover from open surgery. Try not to lift anything heavy or participate in sports or other strenuous activities during this time. Your recovery will take longer if you have a drain inserted and shorter if you have a laparoscopic procedure.

You may take strong prescription pain medication for a few days after surgery or after a drain is placed. After that, you can usually manage the pain with over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Your doctor may encourage you to get up and walk as soon as possible after surgery. You may have to adjust your diet and eat smaller meals while you heal.

You should be able to return to work or school around 1 week after surgery, depending on how you feel.

Considerations for children

A child whose appendix has ruptured may need to stay in the hospital for 1 week or so.

A 2022 study recommended that children who’d undergone laparoscopic surgery and had a normal white blood cell count discontinue antibiotics at the time of their hospital discharge.

Others may come home with a special tube called a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line) so they can get antibiotics through a vein at home.

Kids should stay on a liquid diet for a couple of days after surgery. They should wait until they have their follow-up visit with the surgeon, and get the surgeon’s approval, before going back to their regular activities. This could take up to 3 weeks.

Without quick treatment, a ruptured appendix is a life threatening condition.

When the appendix hasn’t perforated, the risk of death is under 1% according to a 2020 literature review. The risk can be as high as 5% if the appendix has perforated.

Treating a ruptured appendix increases the odds of survival.

If you get medical attention right away for appendicitis, you have a better chance of fully recovering if your appendix ruptures. That’s why it’s important to see a doctor if you have any symptoms of appendicitis.

There’s no way of knowing when or if appendicitis will happen, so you can’t prevent it. However, you can avoid a rupture if you get immediate treatment.

The key is to know the symptoms of appendicitis. If you have any abdominal pain combined with nausea or other symptoms, get medical help immediately.

See a healthcare professional even if you’re unsure if your symptoms are appendicitis. It’s better to find out that you don’t have appendicitis than to wait and have your appendix rupture.

Causes, Symptoms, Recovery, and Survival

Untreated appendicitis may cause your appendix to rupture (burst), resulting in an infection. Symptoms associated with a ruptured appendix include severe abdominal pain, fever, chills, and weakness.

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. This small, thin, finger-shaped sac is located on the lower right side of your abdomen, where your small and large intestines connect. Most doctors think the appendix doesn’t have an important function and can be removed without causing harmful effects.

If your appendicitis is left untreated, your appendix can rupture (burst). When this happens, bacteria get released into your abdomen and can cause a serious infection.

A ruptured appendix, also known as a perforated appendix, can make you very sick and is sometimes hard to treat.

The risk of rupture increases the longer that appendicitis treatment is delayed. The risk is about 2% 36 hours after symptoms start. After that, the risk increases by about 5% every 12 hours.

The biggest risk factor for a ruptured appendix is delaying treatment for appendicitis. The longer you wait to address your symptoms, the higher your risk.

According to a 2018 literature review, younger children are more likely to have a ruptured appendix than older children. This is because they have more trouble explaining their appendicitis symptoms to others.

The exact cause of appendicitis is unknown, but experts think an infection triggers inflammation inside the appendix.

For instance, If something blocks the opening of the appendix, an infection can follow. Bacteria can get trapped inside the appendix and multiply quickly, causing appendicitis. Viruses, parasites, and stool buildup may cause the blockages and infections that result in appendicitis. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is another possible cause of appendicitis.

When appendicitis isn’t treated promptly and correctly, bacteria or pus build up. As this happens, pressure increases and the appendix swells. Eventually, it swells so much that the blood supply to part of the appendix gets cut off. That part of the appendix wall dies, and a hole or tear develops in the dead wall. The high pressure pushes the bacteria and pus into the abdominal cavity.

A ruptured appendix usually oozes or leaks into the abdomen instead of bursting like a balloon.

Risk factors for appendicitis

Appendicitis can happen at any age, but it often affects children and teens between the ages of 10 and 20 years. It’s more common in people who were assigned male at birth.

Having other family members with appendicitis can increase your risk too. Children with cystic fibrosis are also more likely to have appendicitis.

Was this helpful?

Appendicitis symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions that affect the abdomen, such as a stomach virus or an ovarian cyst. For this reason, it can be hard to tell if you have appendicitis.

The classic symptoms of appendicitis are pain starting around the belly button and then vomiting. Several hours later, the pain moves to the lower right abdomen.

If you have these symptoms and think it might be appendicitis, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Quick treatment is essential to avoid a rupture.

Other symptoms of appendicitis include:

• abdominal pain that may start in the upper or middle abdomen but usually settles in the lower right abdomen
• abdominal pain that increases when you walk, stand, jump, cough, or sneeze
• a bloated or swollen abdomen
• tenderness when you push on your abdomen, which may get worse when you quickly stop pressing on it
• an inability to pass gas
• fever
• nausea along with vomiting
• decreased appetite
• constipation or diarrhea

Keep in mind that not everyone who gets appendicitis has these classic symptoms. It’s common for kids and older adults to have more unusual symptoms.

In babies and children, the pain is often spread out all over the abdomen. Caregivers should look for pain that starts around the child’s belly button and moves to the right side, along with appetite loss and fever.

In older people, the abdomen may be less tender, and pain may be less severe.

Appendicitis inflames the appendix and causes it to swell. Without treatment, the pressure eventually reaches the point where the appendix bursts. This can happen as quickly as 48 to 72 hours after your symptoms start.

Once your appendix ruptures, you may have a variety of symptoms. At first, you may feel better for a few hours because the high pressure in your appendix is gone, along with your original symptoms.

Peritonitis

When bacteria leave the intestine and enter the abdominal cavity, the lining of your abdominal cavity becomes inflamed. This condition is called peritonitis.

Peritonitis can be very serious and very painful. It requires immediate treatment.

The symptoms of peritonitis are similar to those of appendicitis, except:

• the pain is in your whole abdomen
• the pain is constant and more severe
• your fever is often higher
• your breathing and heart rate may be fast because of fever, infection, or severe pain
• you may have other symptoms, including chills, weakness, and confusion

Abscess

When you have an infection in your abdomen, the surrounding tissues sometimes try to wall off the infection from the rest of your abdomen. The wall forms an abscess, a closed-off collection of bacteria and pus.

Symptoms of an abscess are also similar to those of appendicitis, except:

• the pain may be in one area (but not always the lower right abdomen), or it may be in your entire abdomen
• the pain can be either a dull ache or sharp and stabbing
• the fever doesn’t go away, even when you take antibiotics
• you may have other symptoms, such as chills and weakness

Sepsis

When left untreated, the bacteria from a ruptured appendix can enter your bloodstream, causing a serious condition called sepsis. Sepsis is inflammation throughout your entire body.

Symptoms of sepsis include:

• fever or a low temperature
• fast heartbeat and breathing
• chills
• weakness
• confusion
• low blood pressure

The treatment for a ruptured appendix is to remove your appendix with surgery.

Doctors sometimes wait to perform surgery on a child who isn’t in any immediate danger. The surgeon will drain infected fluid from the abdomen, have the child take antibiotics, and remove the appendix later. The name for delayed surgery is interval appendectomy.

Peritonitis

The treatment for peritonitis is to clean bacteria out of the abdomen during surgery.

You’ll usually get antibiotics through a vein, at least for the first few days. You may need to receive hospital treatment for 10 to 14 days to ensure the infection is gone.

Abscess

Often, your appendix will be removed right away. If there’s a large abscess, your doctor might want to drain it before surgery. A tube inserted into the abscess lets the bacteria- and pus-filled fluid drain out.

This process can take several weeks. You might go home with the drain in place, and you’ll need to take antibiotics while the drain stays in place.

Once the abscess is drained and the infection and inflammation are controlled, your doctor will perform your surgery.

Sepsis

Antibiotics are the main treatment for sepsis. It’s important to start taking these medications as soon as possible, because the infection is life threatening if left untreated.

Duration of treatment may vary, but shorter treatment courses are generally preferred, according to a 2020 study.

You’ll need to take antibiotics once your ruptured appendix is removed or a drain is put into an abscess. You’ll typically take antibiotics before, during, and after surgery.

The length of antibiotic treatment will vary. Your surgeon will analyze your case to determine the best plan for you.

One 2021 study recommended that postsurgical antibiotic treatment be limited to 3 to 6 days.

Open surgery (instead of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery) is typically used for a ruptured appendix. It helps your doctor ensure all of the infection is cleaned out.

After surgery, you’ll need to keep the incision clean and dry. Avoid taking a bath or shower until your doctor says it’s fine to do so.

It can take up to 6 weeks to fully recover from open surgery. Try not to lift anything heavy or participate in sports or other strenuous activities during this time. Your recovery will take longer if you have a drain inserted and shorter if you have a laparoscopic procedure.

You may take strong prescription pain medication for a few days after surgery or after a drain is placed. After that, you can usually manage the pain with over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Your doctor may encourage you to get up and walk as soon as possible after surgery. You may have to adjust your diet and eat smaller meals while you heal.

You should be able to return to work or school around 1 week after surgery, depending on how you feel.

Considerations for children

A child whose appendix has ruptured may need to stay in the hospital for 1 week or so.

A 2022 study recommended that children who’d undergone laparoscopic surgery and had a normal white blood cell count discontinue antibiotics at the time of their hospital discharge.

Others may come home with a special tube called a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line) so they can get antibiotics through a vein at home.

Kids should stay on a liquid diet for a couple of days after surgery. They should wait until they have their follow-up visit with the surgeon, and get the surgeon’s approval, before going back to their regular activities. This could take up to 3 weeks.

Without quick treatment, a ruptured appendix is a life threatening condition.

When the appendix hasn’t perforated, the risk of death is under 1% according to a 2020 literature review. The risk can be as high as 5% if the appendix has perforated.

Treating a ruptured appendix increases the odds of survival.

If you get medical attention right away for appendicitis, you have a better chance of fully recovering if your appendix ruptures. That’s why it’s important to see a doctor if you have any symptoms of appendicitis.

There’s no way of knowing when or if appendicitis will happen, so you can’t prevent it. However, you can avoid a rupture if you get immediate treatment.

The key is to know the symptoms of appendicitis. If you have any abdominal pain combined with nausea or other symptoms, get medical help immediately.

See a healthcare professional even if you’re unsure if your symptoms are appendicitis. It’s better to find out that you don’t have appendicitis than to wait and have your appendix rupture.

‎Bomb Explosion – Broken Screen

on the App Store

Description

With “Bomb Explosion – Broken Screen” you can simulate and have fun with your friends by playing pranks.

Simulate bombs using the countdown to watch very realistic explosion simulations and broken screen simulations.

In “Bomb Explosion – Broken Screen” you will find:

– Simulates planting a bomb
– Custom times back
– Pranks or jokes to give to your friends after the explosion simulation
– Realistic explosion simulation sounds
– Simulated broken screen sound
– Show your simulated broken screen to your friends after operating the simulated bomb
– Totally free

What to expect to get naughty!! Download and share with your friends!

Disclaimer:
This application is intended for entertainment and not to promote criminal activity or terrorism. This application is just a simulator to play jokes with your friends.

This application does not harm your device.

Graphic design www.dailycoolgadgets.com, www.pinsdaddy.com, https://freepikpsd.com, http://www.aaapn.mx/aniv50/blog/tecno/7-00007.php?blog=7&folio= 7, https://pnghunter. com/, https://wpclipart.com/

Jan 8 2023

Version 0.0.4

New bombs added

Ratings and reviews

Ratings: 20

A game

A lot of ads a lot of ads 🙁

Respect to developers

Mined the teacher’s school in shock, the application is good 4/10

Complaint

Too many advertisements

Developer Luis Hernando Prada has indicated that, in accordance with the app’s privacy policy, data may be processed as described below. Detailed information is available in the developer’s privacy policy.

Data used for tracking information

The following data may be used to track user information on apps and websites owned by other companies:

• Geoposition

• Identifiers

• Usage data

• Diagnostics

Related
with user data

The following data may be collected that is related to the user’s identity:

• Geoposition

• Identifiers

• Usage data

• Diagnostics

Sensitive data may be used differently depending on your age, features involved, or other factors. Read more

Information

Provider

Luis Hernando Prada

Size

61.8 MB

Category

Entertainment

Age

4+

Copyright

© Herdoza Studio

Price

Free

• Developer site

• Application Support

• Privacy Policy

Other apps from this developer

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Top 10 Language Exchange Apps and Websites in 2023

If you want to speak a new language with confidence, you need as much speaking practice as possible. Anyone who has mastered a second language knows that this is true. This is practically the only “secret” to learning a language faster that actually works! But if you’re learning a language that’s not widely spoken where you live, there may not be an opportunity to practice.

For many, the best solution is to spend some time on an online language exchange. If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing out on a great opportunity. And you know what’s best? Most language exchange apps and websites are free!

Here’s a brief explanation of why language exchanges are so effective and our pick of the top ten platforms for finding your perfect language partner.

What is a language exchange app/website?

The concept of language exchange is very simple. Basically, you find people who are learning your native language and offer to help them. In return, they will help you learn your native language. Traditionally, language exchanges are a two-part conversation. In one part, you speak your native language so your partner can practice their new skills. In the second half of the conversation, you speak in your partner’s native language and practice your new skills. This occupation requires trust, discipline and patience. You change the roles of student and teacher; Both of you should be comfortable teaching someone!

Language exchange is nothing new – your parents and grandparents may have done it at school when they wrote letters to students from another country. However, it goes without saying that the Internet has changed a lot.

There are many different online platforms for finding the perfect language exchange partner. It is noteworthy that many of them are very similar to dating apps. As with dating apps, you need to know what you’re looking for in order to find the best app or website for you. Do you want to have regular text conversations about nothing in particular? Are you looking for a serious language enthusiast for Skype conversations who will be strict about your mistakes? Or would you like your ideal exchange partners to share your long-term study journey, send you handwritten letters, and maybe come visit you one day? All this is possible. Whatever type of partnership you’re looking for, one of these websites will help set it up.

Why can language exchange apps/websites help you speak faster?

You study anywhere and anytime

In the good old days, in order to practice speaking a second language, you had to… get out of the house. It’s easy to take it for granted, but students are incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to find native speakers to chat with over the Internet.

If you can’t sleep at night and want to practice Urdu, you can open the app and find someone you can talk to in minutes without getting out of bed – what a gift! Apps and websites make finding opportunities to practice a second language more convenient than ever.

Practice real interaction in a safe environment

Many people learning a new language prepare for important and intimidating conversations. You may need to speak to a professor as part of a test, or you may have an immigration interview. Maybe you’re about to talk to a new potential client, or even just ask for help when you’re lost in a new country. In any of these cases, a lot will be at stake if the conversation goes wrong.

Language exchanges allow you to have fun in small conversations before getting into the big ones. They can help you overcome the fear barrier of trying to speak and prevent you from associating your new language with high-stress situations.

Want to practice a little before you start talking to strangers? Improve your English conversation skills at home with these tips and apps.

Learn from native speakers

Many widely spoken languages ​​are often taught by non-native speakers. Learning the basics this way is fine, but nothing can replace your understanding of a native speaker! Every language has a few common phrases that are absolutely grammatically flawless, but that native speakers will never say. It’s so frustrating sometimes!

A language exchange partner can help you identify these tricky phrases and suggest a more fluent version.

Get a fascinating insight into the culture

When you study hard, it’s easy to forget the real benefits of learning a new language. What really helps you grow as a person cannot be measured by CEFR! Exchange partnerships can develop into mutually instructive friendships. At least you and your friends will exchange cultural ideas; if true friendship develops, both of you will have an exciting new way of looking at the world. At best, a language exchange can enrich your outlook, ultimately making you more compassionate and socially valuable members of society.

The best language exchange apps and websites in 2020

It takes a little courage to go out and talk to strangers. The right online atmosphere can make things a lot easier and less awkward!

Here are our reviews of the top ten sites and apps. They are not in any particular order – the best choice depends on what kind of experience you want to have.

1. HelloTalk

HelloTalk is the king of language exchange apps in 2020. Or at least a member of the royal family. It has over 18 million users – twice the population of New York! If you don’t want to read this entire list, just download HelloTalk and get started.

New users fill out a profile and the app suggests similar profiles of people you might like to chat with. The chat feature is very advanced: you can send photos, emoticons and doodles to your new language partners. When you earn each other’s trust, you can even send voice messages and make phone calls for free! The free version of HelloTalk will be sufficient for most students, but then you can only install one target language. Consider a subscription if you are trying to master multiple languages ​​at once.

One of the longstanding problems of language exchange is that it is difficult for students to know when to switch roles and use a different language. HelloTalk has a handy feature to avoid the awkwardness of trying to be strict with a relatively unfamiliar person. If you enable “Language Exchange Mode”, you will be notified when it’s time to switch languages. With so many users, it’s a bit more suited for those who want to chat than for a more advanced language exchange. However, HelloTalk deserves its impeccable reputation.

Do you like learning English from your phone? Check out our article on The 15 Best Apps to Learn English: Speaking, Writing and More (2020).

2. Tandem

Like HelloTalk, Tandem is a very modern language exchange app with millions of users. It’s called Tinder among the language exchange apps, but don’t let that fool you: most people are here to learn. Once you’ve completed your quick profile, your inbox will be filled with messages. This is mostly suitable for meeting people with whom you can just chat.

With so many users, it can be difficult to focus on one conversation at a time or move beyond superficial topics of discussion, but the app is very nice to look at and easy to navigate. You can leave reviews for other users, which makes the relationship between students more professional and less like a dating app. You can send voice notes or video chat, but there’s not much culture in that either, as most interactions are instantaneous. But there is a handy “fix this message” feature to help your partner without interrupting the conversation.

If you want to enjoy language exchange with a convenient and modern messaging app, Tandem is a great option.

3. MyLanguageExchange

MyLanguageExchange websites look older than the language concept itself, but don’t be disappointed. While no one has updated the website itself since the mid-2000s, MyLanguageExchange is a thriving network of learners with new members joining every day.

This is a simple database of people looking for a language exchange, with columns for short bios and details of what they are looking for. If flashy apps like Tandem and HelloTalk are good for short-term conversations with many strangers, then MyLanguageExchange is the opposite. Once you’ve connected with someone, you usually switch to an alternative form of messaging like email, Skype, or WhatsApp. Study mates very quickly dissolve into the role of “new friend”.

This is a language exchange for those who enjoyed doing language exchange in high school. You can meet someone on this site who will become a part of your life for a long time. For example, someone you can Skype with for years and then fly halfway around the world to meet. For people who are used to the anonymity and instantaneous operation of modern applications, this may seem a little creepy or even potentially dangerous. It depends on what you are looking for and what part of yourself you want to share.

4. Bilingua

Some language exchange apps let you (digitally) see an endless list of students. You can end up sending “Hi, how are you?” dozens of strangers, but this rarely allows you to develop a deep enough connection with one person to try to build a meaningful conversation. Ex!

The advantage of Bilingua is that the application combines a modern interface and help in finding the “one”. Which in this case means a compatible person with whom you can exchange skills for a certain period of time. The free app uses a matching algorithm to pair students based on their personality, language level, and what they want to talk about. Yes, it does feel like a dating app, but fans say it saved them time by narrowing down hundreds of potential school friends. Some users find the app too buggy, especially when switching to Mandarin. Worth a try to see if it works for you.

5. The Mixer

In theory, a big advantage of language exchange apps is that they allow you to converse with native speakers of the language you are learning. However, in practice, most language applications are based on messaging. So what you’re really getting is writing practice, not the all-important speaking practice.

The Mixer is a website created to solve this problem. Users should immediately connect to their Skype accounts. You can, of course, text others before video chatting with them, but this site is primarily for people who want to practice speaking rather than texting.

The site was created by a Japanese teacher from a college in Pennsylvania, USA. On the one hand, this means that the website is running without a budget. This means that it cannot attract millions of members or encourage users to behave professionally. On the other hand, it was created solely for the needs of students studying foreign languages, without any priority business goals. There are even free conversation starters that help users structure their sessions productively.

Are you uncomfortable entering a video chat without first checking with your language exchange partner? If yes, then it is understandable and this site may not be for you. However, if you’re willing to take a little risk, this site could be a surprise winner.

6. Speaky

If you want to send a message to a native speaker in the next five minutes, you can do so using Speaky. It is available as both a very flashy app and a very flashy desktop version. After you enter your interests, you will be shown a mosaic screen of users learning your language online. You can write to anyone, and anyone can write to you. It is possible to hide your profile from people of the opposite sex. If you are a woman, this is probably worth doing. Otherwise, you will almost certainly get a flood of messages from men who are confused by the similarity of language exchange apps and dating apps.

Users can’t video chat or call each other at the moment, so if you want to practice speaking, you should look elsewhere. Some students also consider the app to be broken, claiming that it deleted their messages for no reason. However, it has a ton of users, so there will always be someone available to chat in real time right now, whenever that “right now” happens.

7. Meetup

Texting new friends is great practice, but being able to actually meet native speakers is a real chance to practice! If you can travel to big cities, it’s worth going for a personal language exchange, even if you feel insecure. Meetup is a website for scheduling meetings of common interest with strangers. It is widely represented in Europe and America, and language exchange is one of the most popular categories of events.

You can search by city and by language. Meetings are usually free or cheap and often take place in a bar, cafe or park. Sometimes exchanges include fun activities like dance lessons or bowling to give you a topic to talk about. Of course, your opportunities will depend on where you are in the world, but if you are learning the language of the country you have just moved to, what are you waiting for? Don’t let fear hold you back – everyone will be in the same situation as you!

8. Language exchange thread on Reddit

If you like the idea of ​​finding one long-term language exchange buddy, but don’t like old-fashioned websites, then the “web homepage” might be a surprisingly good choice. Reddit has some very weird corners, but it also has a thriving forum on almost any topic, and learning languages ​​is no exception. Reddit itself isn’t great for hosting language exchanges, but you can easily find someone to team up with and then exchange with them using video chat on another platform.

Since people use Reddit to discuss all sorts of niche interests, you will be able to carefully check what else your language partner is interested in before accepting their request to learn more. This is another option worth considering!

9. Facebook

If Reddit isn’t for you, but you like the idea of ​​finding a language exchange through existing social networks, then Facebook might be the perfect solution. Facebook has private groups for just about anything, so try typing “[your native language] to [your target language] language exchange” in the search bar. Chances are you will find people in the same situation as you.

The great thing about finding study mates on Facebook is that you can usually look at their likes, opinions, and vacation photos before deciding to connect. Who doesn’t love a good Facebook stalking session?! As we all know, once you’ve added someone as a friend, Facebook allows you to chat, make phone calls, and make video calls. As if it was specially designed for language exchange!

These groups also provide something you didn’t even know existed – a team of language learners you can get support from. As silly as it sounds, having memes in your feed about topics like “Only English speaking Arabic learners know…” can really be very reassuring! And this can be a good motivation if you often put off studying by browsing Facebook …

10. Preply is like a language exchange, only twice as effective!

Okay, you got us… this is not a language exchange site. Preply is a platform for finding online tutors for private lessons in almost any language.

But listen, without a doubt, a language exchange is a fantastic way to improve your speaking skills in a second language. But such applications can also be very frustrating.

At best, you only learn half the time during any language exchange. It’s better than nothing, but it’s not entirely effective. There is also no guarantee that you will find an exchange partner who will be a good teacher, which is a very rare skill.