Appendicitis is one of the causes of serious belly pain. It happens when the appendix becomes inflamed. The appendix is a small sac that is shaped like a finger and is attached to your large intestine.
This condition is usually treated with surgery to remove the appendix. Some cases can be treated with antibiotics.
You'll need to keep watching your symptoms at home. With antibiotic treatment, there's still a chance that the appendix will need to be removed.
If your symptoms continue or get worse, call your doctor or get medical care right away. Appendicitis can get serious very quickly.
Appendicitis is one of the causes of serious belly pain. It happens when the appendix becomes infected and inflamed. The appendix is a small sac shaped like a finger that is attached to the large intestine.
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:
If the infection gets worse, the wall of the appendix can break open (rupture). This spreads infection into the belly area, causing peritonitis. Peritonitis is a serious condition that needs medical treatment right away.
The main treatment for appendicitis is surgery to remove the appendix (appendectomy).
Symptoms of appendicitis include:
Sometimes the only symptom is that you feel sick and you have belly pain that's hard to describe.
Severe belly pain needs medical care right away. Moderate belly pain that doesn't go away after 4 hours should prompt a call to your doctor. If you think you could have appendicitis, you need to see a doctor.
Appendicitis is usually treated with surgery to remove the appendix. Some cases can be treated with antibiotics. In those cases, there's still a chance that the appendix will need to be removed later.
If you need surgery, your doctor may make a cut (incision) in your belly. Or the doctor may use a tool called a laparoscope to remove your appendix through a few small cuts.
If you aren't treated in time, your appendix can burst. This can cause serious problems. It's best to take out the appendix before it bursts.
If your appendix does burst, surgery may be harder to do. You may also need other treatment.
Your doctor will do a physical exam and ask you questions about your symptoms, when they started, and what was happening before the pain began. You also may have blood and urine tests to look for infection. You may need a CT scan or an ultrasound of your belly.
There are things you can do if you may have appendicitis. Don't eat or drink anything, unless your doctor says it is okay. If you need surgery, it's best to have an empty stomach. Don't take laxatives. If you have appendicitis, they may make the appendix burst. Follow your doctor's instructions about taking medicines.
Appendicitis is a common reason for belly pain. It happens when the appendix becomes infected and inflamed.
Your appendix is a small, finger-shaped sac that is attached to your large intestine. Experts do not know what the appendix does in the body. Most of the time it does not cause problems.
It's often not clear why someone gets appendicitis. In some cases, it can be caused by a hard piece of stool blocking the opening to the appendix. Then bacteria can grow in the appendix and cause an infection.
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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