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Appendicitis occurs when the appendix—a finger-shaped organ connected to the end of the large intestine—becomes infected. Symptoms of appendicitis include abdominal pain, often starting near the belly button. The pain may move down to the lower right side of the abdomen. Appendicitis is the leading cause of emergency abdominal surgery (appendix surgery is called an appendectomy) and is most likely to strike people between the ages of 10 and 30—although it can occur at any age.
Appendicitis is one of the causes of serious belly pain. It happens when the appendix, a part of the large intestine, becomes infected and inflamed.
Appendicitis is most common in people between the ages of 10 and 30, although it can occur at any age. Common symptoms of appendicitis include:
Appendicitis is most common in people between the ages of 10 and 30, although it can occur at any age. Common symptoms of appendicitis include:
- Pain in the belly. The pain may begin around the belly button.
- Pain in the belly that gets stronger and moves below the belly button to the lower right side.
- Pain that does not go away and gets worse when the person moves, walks, or coughs.
- Pain in any part of the belly or on the side.
- Nausea, throwing up, and not wanting to eat.
- Constipation, back pain, and a slight fever.
- A general feeling of being sick, and a pain that is hard to describe.
Symptoms
The main symptom of appendicitis is belly (abdominal) pain. The pain can feel like indigestion or like you need to have a bowel movement or pass gas. Many people feel the first pain near the belly button. Then it moves to the lower right side 
of the belly. But the pain can be in different parts of your belly or even on your side. The pain may get worse if you move, walk, or cough. You may also have a fever or feel sick to your stomach.
of the belly. But the pain can be in different parts of your belly or even on your side. The pain may get worse if you move, walk, or cough. You may also have a fever or feel sick to your stomach. Many people who have had appendicitis say the pain is hard to describe. It may not feel like any pain you have had before. It may not even be a very bad pain, but you may feel like something is wrong. If you have moderate belly pain that does not go away after 4 hours, call your doctor. If you have severe belly pain, call your doctor right away.
You may have appendicitis if:
Pain in the abdomen is very common. For more information, see the topics Abdominal Pain, Age 12 and Older, and Abdominal Pain, Age 11 and Younger.
There are also many conditions with symptoms similar to appendicitis. But because appendicitis can become serious in a short amount of time, call your doctor right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above. Treatment is much easier if the appendix has not ruptured. In most people, the appendix does not rupture until they have felt sick for at least 24 hours.
You may have appendicitis if:
- You have pain in your belly. The pain may begin around your belly button.
- The pain in your belly gets stronger and moves below your belly button on your right side (the lower right quadrant ). This is the most common place to feel pain when you have appendicitis.
- The pain does not go away and gets worse when you move, walk, or cough.
- You have pain in any part of your belly or on your side.
- You feel nauseated or throw up a few times. You also may not feel like eating.
- You have constipation, back pain, a slight fever, or a swollen abdomen.
Pain in the abdomen is very common. For more information, see the topics Abdominal Pain, Age 12 and Older, and Abdominal Pain, Age 11 and Younger.
There are also many conditions with symptoms similar to appendicitis. But because appendicitis can become serious in a short amount of time, call your doctor right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above. Treatment is much easier if the appendix has not ruptured. In most people, the appendix does not rupture until they have felt sick for at least 24 hours.
Treatment Overview
The only treatment for appendicitis is surgery to remove the appendix (appendectomy). The goal is to remove the appendix before it ruptures and spreads infection to the abdomen (peritonitis).
If your doctor is not sure if you have appendicitis, you may have to wait for several hours at home or in the hospital before a decision about surgery is made. Your doctor may send you home and have you come back in 6 or 8 hours to be rechecked.
Surgery to remove the appendix can be done one of two ways—laparoscopic or traditional. Experts do not agree on which surgery is best. It often depends on what your surgeon prefers. Laparoscopic surgery uses three or four small cuts or incisions, and traditional appendectomy uses one larger incision. Most people feel better immediately after surgery. Some people can even go home the same day.
If your appendix has burst and there is infection in your abdomen, you may have to stay in the hospital longer. Your treatment will include intravenous (IV) fluids and antibiotics. Surgery for a burst appendix may be more complicated. If you have a burst appendix, a radiologist may place a drain in your belly to help remove some of the infection before you have surgery to remove it. In this case, the appendix will be taken out a few weeks later. After you have your appendix removed, the doctor may leave the incision (cut) open to heal from the inside to the outside. You may also have a drain placed within the wound to help drain the infection.
You will also have to stay in the hospital longer if you have health problems that get worse after surgery.
Sometimes a doctor will recommend surgery even if he or she is not sure you have appendicitis. Surgery can eliminate the chances of a ruptured appendix. If you have surgery and your appendix is normal, your appendix will still be removed so that it will not cause future problems.
If your doctor is not sure if you have appendicitis, you may have to wait for several hours at home or in the hospital before a decision about surgery is made. Your doctor may send you home and have you come back in 6 or 8 hours to be rechecked.
Surgery to remove the appendix can be done one of two ways—laparoscopic or traditional. Experts do not agree on which surgery is best. It often depends on what your surgeon prefers. Laparoscopic surgery uses three or four small cuts or incisions, and traditional appendectomy uses one larger incision. Most people feel better immediately after surgery. Some people can even go home the same day.
If your appendix has burst and there is infection in your abdomen, you may have to stay in the hospital longer. Your treatment will include intravenous (IV) fluids and antibiotics. Surgery for a burst appendix may be more complicated. If you have a burst appendix, a radiologist may place a drain in your belly to help remove some of the infection before you have surgery to remove it. In this case, the appendix will be taken out a few weeks later. After you have your appendix removed, the doctor may leave the incision (cut) open to heal from the inside to the outside. You may also have a drain placed within the wound to help drain the infection.
You will also have to stay in the hospital longer if you have health problems that get worse after surgery.
Sometimes a doctor will recommend surgery even if he or she is not sure you have appendicitis. Surgery can eliminate the chances of a ruptured appendix. If you have surgery and your appendix is normal, your appendix will still be removed so that it will not cause future problems.
