Appendicitis Resource Center - All Articles
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Appendicitis - All Articles

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Appendicitis is the inflammation and potential infection of the appendix, a small pouch attached to your large intestine on the lower right side of your abdomen. Symptoms of appendicitis may include sharp pain in your lower right abdomen, pain that worsens with movement, nausea, vomiting, low-grade fever, and gastrointestinal distress. Treatment typically involves surgery to remove the appendix, sometimes preceded by antibiotics to help treat infection. Prompt medical attention is crucial to avoid complications.

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What causes appendicitis?

Appendicitis is most often caused by a gastrointestinal infection that spreads to the appendix or a blockage of the interior tube of the appendix. This blockage is typically due to stool, infection, or a tumor growth.

Symptoms of appendicitis include worsening pain in the lower right abdomen, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and low-grade fever. Appendicitis can appear similarly to other sources of abdominal pain, making it difficult to diagnose.

To diagnose appendicitis, your healthcare provider may perform an abdominal exam to assess your pain and detect any inflammation, run a blood test to identify any infection, or use imaging tests like ultrasounds and CT scans to diagnose it visually.

A surgical procedure called an appendectomy is the standard treatment for appendicitis, although some cases are now managed with antibiotics alone. To avoid complications, the appendix is typically removed within 24 hours of an appendicitis diagnosis.

Left untreated, appendicitis can cause a buildup of pressure in the appendix until it ruptures, spreading infected contents throughout the abdomen. If the lining of the abdominal cavity then becomes infected, this can lead to sepsis, which can be fatal.

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Resources
  1. Appendicitis. Mayo Clinic. Jan 18, 2025.