Appendicitis

Definition & Facts

Appendicitis is inflammation of your appendix.

Symptoms & Causes

The most common symptom of appendicitis is pain in your abdomen.

Diagnosis

Health care professionals can diagnose most cases of appendicitis by taking your medical history, performing a physical exam, and through an imaging test.

Treatment

Doctors typically treat appendicitis with antibiotics and surgery to remove the appendix.

Eating, Diet, & Nutrition

Researchers have not found that eating, diet, and nutrition cause or prevent appendicitis.

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.

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Your Digestive System & How It Works

The digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract-also called the digestive tract-and the liver, pancreas, and the gallbladder. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus.

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This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings through its clearinghouses and education programs to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.