Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is a small, fingerlike pouch located where the large and small intestines join. It has no known use. Inflammation is the body's reaction to irritation, injury, or infection. It causes swelling and pain.
It is important to get treatment for appendicitis before the appendix ruptures. A rupture is a break or tear in the appendix. If an infected appendix ruptures, infection may move into the abdomen. This can cause peritonitis, which is a dangerous infection of the lining of the belly. Peritonitis can be fatal if it is not treated right away.
Because of the risk of rupture, appendicitis is considered an emergency.
In most cases inflammation of the appendix is caused by a blockage of the opening of the appendix by a piece of stool. It may also be a reaction to infection in the digestive tract.
The symptoms are different from person to person but may include:
The symptoms of peritonitis are much more severe. The pain is worse and is felt throughout the abdomen. The abdomen may be swollen and feel tight or hard.
People under 10 or over 50 years old and pregnant women are more likely to not have the usual symptoms of appendicitis. Because of this, they may delay treatment, which makes it more likely that their appendix will burst. It is very important for these people to be especially careful to report the early signs of appendicitis.
Sometimes it is difficult to diagnose appendicitis, especially in young children, older adults, and pregnant women. Your health care provider will review your symptoms and examine you.
You may have the following tests:
If the diagnosis is not clear, you may be watched closely in the emergency room or hospital for 12 to 24 hours to see if surgery is necessary. In most cases the appendix must be removed. The operation is called an appendectomy.
Peritonitis is also treated with surgery and is a medical emergency. A person with symptoms of peritonitis needs to be seen in the emergency department as soon as possible.
A rupture of the appendix can also cause an abscess (infected sore) near the place where the appendix ruptured. If the appendix does rupture, the surgeon may put a drainage tube in the abdomen to let the infection drain for a few days after surgery.
Before surgery you will be given antibiotics. These may be continued 24 hours or many days, depending on whether your appendix ruptured and caused peritonitis.
For the first day or so after surgery, you may not be given anything to eat or drink. Then you will be allowed to have small amounts of water, later clear liquids, and finally some solid food until you are able to handle a regular diet.
Because health care providers cannot always be sure that the appendix is inflamed until they examine it during surgery, about 15% of appendixes are removed that are not inflamed. However, it is appropriate for a provider to risk removal of a normal appendix so that he or she is sure to not miss a case of true appendicitis.
If your provider does not hospitalize you and sends you home without surgery, your provider will probably ask you to:
If your health care provider sends you home, call your provider if any of the following occur:
The usual stay in the hospital after an appendectomy is less than 4 days if your appendix did not rupture. If your appendix ruptured, you may stay in the hospital 7 days or longer. You can live a normal life without an appendix.
The most important factor in your recovery after surgery is following the full course of treatment ordered by your health care provider, including taking all of any prescribed antibiotics. To feel better as soon as possible you should:
There is no way to prevent appendicitis. However, appendicitis is less common in people who eat foods containing fiber and roughage such as raw vegetables and fruits.
If you think you might have appendicitis, call your health care provider right away so that if your appendix is infected, it can be removed before it ruptures.
Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIA File DIG4003F.HTM Release 9.0/2006
Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.