Appendicitis is an inflamed appendix. It can cause acute (sudden, intense) pain in your lower abdomen. Your appendix is a small, tubular pouch, about the size of a finger, that protrudes from the lower right end of your large intestine. Poop (feces) moving through your large intestine can block or infect your appendix, leading to inflammation. Inflammation causes your appendix to swell, and when it swells, it can burst.
A burst appendix is a medical emergency. It spreads bacteria from inside your bowels throughout your abdominal cavity. This infection (peritonitis) can then spread to your bloodstream, which can lead to life-threatening complications (sepsis). Because of this risk, the standard treatment for appendicitis is to remove your appendix (appendectomy). Your appendix isn’t an essential organ, and you won’t miss it.
What is acute appendicitis vs. chronic appendicitis?
Appendicitis is almost always an acute condition, which means it begins suddenly and worsens quickly. Most of what we know about appendicitis refers to acute appendicitis, which is very common. Chronic appendicitis is a rare condition that we don’t know as much about. It appears to occur when something irritates your appendix in an on-and-off sort of way over a long period, but it never gets worse.
Chronic appendicitis may go unrecognized because the symptoms don’t escalate the way they do in acute appendicitis. But any type of appendicitis is serious. If you have chronic abdominal pain and you don’t know what causes it, it’s important to see a healthcare provider about it. Chronic appendicitis may worsen or become acute at any time. Because of this risk, healthcare providers treat it the same way.
How common is appendicitis?
Acute appendicitis is common, especially between the ages of 10 and 30. Appendicitis in children is most common during the teen years, but younger children also get it. In the U.S., about 5% of the population will get acute appendicitis in their lifetime. It’s the leading cause of abdominal pain leading to emergency abdominal surgery. Chronic appendicitis occurs in approximately 1% of the population.
What
What are the symptoms of appendicitis?
The most common symptoms of appendicitis are abdominal pain, nausea and loss of appetite. There’s a typical way these symptoms may present that can make it easier to recognize appendicitis. But unfortunately, only about half of people with appendicitis have the classic presentation of symptoms. Kids, elderly adults and pregnant people may be less likely to present with typical symptoms.
What are the early signs of appendicitis?
In the typical presentation, abdominal pain begins in the middle of your abdomen, around your belly button. It may hover or may come and go for several hours. Eventually, the pain intensifies, and nausea and vomiting develop. Several hours later, the nausea passes, and the pain shifts to your lower right abdomen, where your appendix is. The pain becomes more focused and continues to worsen.
What are other possible symptoms of appendicitis?
Additional symptoms may develop later in some people. These can include:
Fever. Up to 40% of people develop a fever. This means your immune system is kicking into a higher gear. It may also mean inflammation is increasing or it may mean infection is spreading.
Malaise. You may just notice that you feel generally unwell. You may lack energy or motivation and feel like staying in bed, the way you do when you’re sick.
Swollen belly. Your abdomen may look distended or feel bloated. This is usually an advanced symptom and may indicate your appendix has ruptured.
Urinary symptoms. You may feel like you have to pee more often or more urgently. This can happen if appendicitis irritates nerves connected to your bladder.
Bowel paralysis. When your body redirects blood flow from your bowels to your appendix, your bowels can temporarily stop moving. Some people develop constipation and feel that they can’t pass gas. You may have the sense that a bowel movement would relieve your symptoms.
Diarrhea. Some people may have overactive bowels and more frequent poops. This may be because inflammation from your appendix is irritating the end portion of your colon beside it.
Can appendicitis go away on its own?
It’s possible but not likely. Appendicitis may spontaneously resolve if the cause suddenly goes away on its own. This might happen if an obstruction in your appendix gets unstuck and passes on through your intestine, or if an infection that was causing lymphoid hyperplasia in your appendix suddenly improves. But you shouldn’t assume this will happen or that it has happened, even if your pain has reduced.
What is the treatment for appendicitis?
Appendicitis is considered an emergency, so it’s treated in the emergency room. The standard treatment includes both medication and surgery, though in a small number of cases, medication might be enough.
How is appendicitis diagnosed?
A healthcare provider will ask you detailed questions about your pain and other symptoms. They’ll perform a gentle physical exam to check for physical signs of appendicitis, such as guarding, stiffening and pain in response to pressure. If you have the typical profile of symptoms, they may be able to diagnose you right away. If you don’t, they may need to order further tests to confirm appendicitis.
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