Appendicitis

Appendicitis

• About appendicitis
• Symptoms of appendicitis
• Diagnosing appendicitis
• Treating appendicitis
• Complications of appendicitis

About appendicitis

Appendicitis is a painful swelling of the appendix. The appendix is a small, thin pouch about 5 to 10cm (2 to 4 inches) long. It’s connected to the large intestine, where stools (faeces) are formed.

Nobody knows exactly why we have an appendix, but removing it isn’t harmful.

Appendicitis typically starts with a pain in the middle of your tummy (abdomen) that may come and go.

Within hours, the pain travels to the lower right-hand side, where the appendix usually lies, and becomes constant and severe.

Pressing on this area, coughing, or walking may all make the pain worse. You may lose your appetite, feel sick, and occasionally experience diarrhoea.

Read more about the symptoms of appendicitis.

When to get medical help

If you’re experiencing abdominal pain that’s gradually getting worse, contact your GP or local out-of-hours service immediately. If these options aren’t available, phone NHS 24’s 111 service for advice.

You should phone 999 for an ambulance if you have sudden pain that continues to get worse and spreads across your abdomen.

These are signs your appendix may have burst, which can lead to potentially life-threatening complications.

Read more about: 

• diagnosing appendicitis 
• complications of appendicitis

How appendicitis is treated

In most cases of appendicitis, the appendix needs to be surgically removed as soon as possible.

Removal of the appendix, known as an appendectomy or appendicectomy, is one of the most common operations in the UK and its success rate is excellent.

The operation is most commonly performed as keyhole surgery (laparoscopy), which involves making several small cuts in your abdomen, through which special surgical instruments are inserted.

Open surgery, where a larger, single cut is made in the abdomen, is usually carried out if the appendix has burst or access is more difficult.

Most people make a full recovery from an appendectomy in a couple of weeks, although strenuous activities may need to be avoided for up to 6 weeks after open surgery. 

Read more about treating appendicitis.

What causes appendicitis?

It’s not exactly clear what the causes of appendicitis are. Most cases are thought to occur when something blocks the entrance of the appendix.

For example, a blockage may be formed by a small piece of faeces or an upper respiratory tract infection could lead to a swollen lymph node within the wall of the bowel.

This obstruction leads to the development of inflammation and swelling. The pressure caused by the swelling can then lead to the appendix bursting.

As the causes aren’t fully understood, there’s no guaranteed way of preventing appendicitis.

Who’s affected?

Appendicitis is a common condition. It’s estimated around 1 in every 13 people develop it at some point in their life.

Appendicitis can develop at any age, but it’s most common in young people aged from 10 to 20 years old.