Do not take pain medicines. They may hide other symptoms your healthcare provider needs to know about. Appendicitis symptoms may look like other health problems.
Always see your healthcare provider to be sure. Your healthcare provider will ask about your past health and do a physical exam. He or she may also have you take the following tests:. If your appendix has not burst then your recovery from an appendectomy will only take a few days. If your appendix has burst, your recovery time will be longer and you will need antibiotic medicine.
You can live a normal life without your appendix. Changes in diet or exercise are usually not needed. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes appendicitis? Who is at risk for appendicitis? Appendicitis affects 1 in 1, people living in the U. Most cases of appendicitis happen to people between the ages of 10 and 30 years.
Having a family history of appendicitis may raise your risk, especially if you are a man. For a child, having cystic fibrosis also seems to raise the risk of getting appendicitis. What are the symptoms of appendicitis? The following are common symptoms of appendicitis. Your own symptoms may vary. Pain in the abdomen is the most common symptom. This pain: May start in the area around your belly button and move to the lower right-hand side of your belly.
It may also start in the lower right-hand side of your belly. Often gets worse as time goes on. May feel worse when you are moving, taking deep breaths, being touched, and coughing or sneezing. May be felt all over your belly if your appendix bursts. Other common symptoms include: Upset stomach and vomiting Loss of appetite Fever and chills Trouble having a bowel movement constipation Loose stool diarrhea Trouble passing gas Swollen belly Do not take pain medicines.
How is appendicitis diagnosed? He or she may also have you take the following tests: Blood tests: To check for signs of infection, such as having a high white blood cell count. Urine tests: To see if you have a urinary tract infection. There is no direct evidence that diet plays a role in causing appendicitis. Many people treated for acute appendicitis may have had previous episodes of appendicitis that they did not seek treatment for. If pus builds up in the appendix, it will eventually burst, flooding the abdominal cavity with infected matter.
Bursting, or perforation, can occur 36 hours or so from the onset of infection. The signs of a perforated appendix include a severe worsening of symptoms and collapse.
Infection of the lining of the abdominal cavity peritonitis is a life-threatening complication and requires immediate emergency treatment. Appendicitis can mimic the symptoms of other disorders such as gastroenteritis, ectopic pregnancy and various infections including those of the kidney and chest.
Diagnosis may include a thorough physical examination and careful consideration of the symptoms. If the diagnosis is not clear, then laboratory tests and ultrasound or CT scans may be needed. Since appendicitis is potentially life threatening if left untreated, doctors will err on the side of caution and operate, even if there is no firm diagnosis.
Treatment includes an operation to remove the appendix completely. This procedure is known as an appendicectomy or appendectomy. The appendix can often be removed using laparoscopic keyhole surgery. The surgeon will use a slender instrument laparoscope , which is inserted through tiny incisions cuts in the abdomen. This eliminates the need for an abdominal incision. If this is not possible, a small incision is made in the lower abdomen. The appendix is cut away and the wound on the large intestine stitched.
If the appendix has burst, the surgeon will insert a tube and drain the abdominal cavity of pus. Antibiotics are given to the patient intravenously to reduce the possibility of peritonitis. The typical hospital stay for an appendicectomy is between three and five days. Removing the appendix appears to have no effect on the workings of the digestive system, in either the short or long term. An alternative to surgery is antibiotic therapy.
This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Appendicitis Open pop-up dialog box Close. Appendicitis The appendix is a narrow, finger-shaped pouch that projects out from the colon. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Appendicitis. Accessed May 4, Appendectomy: Surgical removal of the appendix. American College of Surgeons.
Martin RF. Acute appendicitis in adults: Clinical manifestations and differential diagnosis. Smink D, et al.
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