Appendicitis

Appendicitis, an inflammation of your appendix, is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain requiring surgery. Untreated, it can lead to serious complications, such as peritonitis or an abscess.

Appendicitis symptoms include abdominal pain, lack of appetite, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea. See a doctor or go to the emergency room right away if you think you or your child has appendicitis. Quick treatment prevents most complications.

To diagnose appendicitis, a doctor reviews your symptoms and medical history; performs a physical exam; and may order urinalysis, blood tests, or a pregnancy test. Imaging tests, such as abdominal ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI scan, help confirm an appendicitis diagnosis or show other causes of your abdominal pain.

Doctors typically treat appendicitis with antibiotics and with surgery to remove the appendix, either by laparoscopic surgery or a laparotomy. Prompt surgery decreases your chances of a burst appendix. Doctors use special care for treating a burst appendix, abscess, or peritonitis. Some mild cases of appendicitis may be treated with antibiotics alone.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support basic and clinical research into many digestive disorders.