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• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatments and Therapies

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Research

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• Clinical Trials
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Summary

The appendix is a small, tube-like organ attached to the first part of the large intestine. It is located in the lower right part of the abdomen. It has no known function. A blockage inside of the appendix causes appendicitis. The blockage leads to increased pressure, problems with blood flow, and inflammation. If the blockage is not treated, the appendix can burst and spread infection into the abdomen. This causes a condition called peritonitis.

The main symptom is pain in the abdomen, often on the right side. It is usually sudden and gets worse over time. Other symptoms may include:

• Swelling in the abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Inability to pass gas
• Low fever

Not everyone with appendicitis has all these symptoms.

Appendicitis is a medical emergency. Treatment almost always involves removing the appendix. Anyone can get appendicitis, but it is more common among people 10 to 30 years old.

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

• Appendicitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Appendicitis (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Abdominal and Pelvic CT (Computed Tomography) (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Abdominal exploration - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Abdominal Pain (Stomach Pain), Short-Term (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Abdominal Ultrasound (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Appendicitis Tests (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• Appendectomy - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Treating Appendicitis: Comparing Surgery with Antibiotic Treatment (Nemours Foundation)

Statistics and Research

• Appendix Pain: Preventing Appendicitis Complications (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Appendicitis (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Advantages comparison of peritoneal drainage versus no drainage after laparoscopic appendectomy...
• Article: Ultrasonographic characteristics of neonatal appendicitis: a case series.
• Article: Establishment and validation of a nomogram for predicting postoperative intestinal adhesion...
• Appendicitis -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Children

• Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Appendicitis (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Pediatric Abdominal Ultrasound (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
• Ultrasound: Abdomen (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Appendicitis in Teens (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Appendectomy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Appendicitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish