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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
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
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: Efficacy of automated machine learning models and feature engineering for diagnosis...
- Article: Application of transumbilical single-incision laparoscopy in the treatment of complicated appendicitis...
- Article: Single-cell sequencing of the vermiform appendix during development identifies transcriptional relationships...
- Appendicitis -- see more articles
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