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Appendicitis
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Digestive System

Appendicitis

Appendicitis is a sudden, potentially life‑threatening inflammation of the appendix that requires prompt surgical removal.

Overview

The appendix is a small, tube‑like organ attached to the first part of the large intestine, located in the lower right part of the abdomen. It has no known function. A blockage inside the appendix initiates the condition known as appendicitis. The blockage creates increased pressure, disrupts blood flow, and triggers inflammation. If untreated, the appendix can burst, spreading infection throughout the abdomen and causing peritonitis.

Symptoms

The main symptom is pain in the abdomen, often on the right side, which is usually sudden and worsens over time. Other possible symptoms include:

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

Not everyone with appendicitis experiences all of these symptoms.

Causes & Risk Factors

Appendicitis results from a blockage within the appendix, leading to the cascade of pressure, impaired blood flow, and inflammation described above. While anyone can develop appendicitis, it is more common among people aged 10 to 30 years.

Diagnosis

Appendicitis is a medical emergency; prompt evaluation by a healthcare professional is essential to confirm the diagnosis and determine the appropriate course of action.

Treatment & Management

Treatment almost always involves surgically removing the appendix (appendectomy). Early intervention helps prevent complications such as rupture and peritonitis.

Frequently Asked Questions

In select cases of uncomplicated appendicitis where the appendix has not ruptured or formed an abscess, treatment with intravenous antibiotics alone may be an option. However, surgery remains the primary and definitive standard of care because roughly 25 to 30 percent of patients treated solely with antibiotics experience a recurrence within one year.
Recovery depends on the surgical approach and whether the appendix ruptured. After an uncomplicated laparoscopic appendectomy, most patients return to light daily activities within 1 to 2 weeks. Recovery from an open surgery or a ruptured appendix with localized peritonitis can take 3 to 4 weeks or longer, during which strenuous exercise and heavy lifting must be avoided.
ppendicitis pain classically begins as a dull ache around the navel and progressively shifts to the lower right abdomen, where it becomes sharp and constant. Unlike general stomach flu, appendicitis pain worsens significantly with coughing, walking, or pressing on the area (rebound tenderness), and vomiting typically follows the onset of pain rather than preceding it.
sudden, temporary relief of pain can paradoxically signal that the appendix has ruptured, relieving the pressure inside the organ. This is quickly followed by widespread, severe abdominal pain, a high fever, chills, rapid heart rate, weakness, and a rigid, swollen abdomen as infection spreads throughout the peritoneal cavity.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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