appendicitis

Also known as epityphlitis, acute appendicitis, acute appendicitis with generalized peritonitis, acute appendicitis with generalized peritonitis (disorder), acute appendicitis with peritoneal abscess, acute appendicitis with peritoneal abscess (disorder), vermiform appendixitis, vermiform appendix inflammation

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these typical symptoms. Severe complications of a ruptured appendix include widespread, painful inflammation of the inner lining of the abdominal wall and sepsis.

AI overview

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix that typically causes right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, and loss of appetite, though about 40% of people experience atypical symptoms. It matters because if the appendix ruptures, it can lead to serious complications including widespread abdominal inflammation and sepsis.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Medical condition (new).image: Acute Appendicitis.jpg
Medical condition (new).caption: An acutely inflamed and enlarged appendix, sliced lengthwise.
Medical condition (new).field: General surgery
Medical condition (new).synonyms: Epityphlitis
Medical condition (new).symptoms: Periumbilical or right lower abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, decreased appetite, high fever
Medical condition (new).complications: Abdominal inflammation, sepsis, Gastrointestinal bleeding, gastrointestinal abscess
Medical condition (new).diagnosis: Based on symptoms, medical imaging, blood tests
Medical condition (new).differential: Mesenteric adenitis, cholecystitis, psoas abscess, abdominal aortic aneurysm
Medical condition (new).treatment: Surgical removal of the appendix, antibiotics
Medical condition (new).frequency: 11.6 million (2015)
Medical condition (new).deaths: 50,100 (2015)

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

31,407 papers

Diagnosis of Uncomplicated and Complicated Appendicitis in Adults.ReviewScandinavian journal of surgery : SJS : official organ for the Finnish Surgical Society and the Scandinavian Surgical Society · 2021Bom WJ, Scheijmans JCG, Salminen P et al.DOI: 10.1177/14574969211008330
[Appendicitis - review].ReviewLaeknabladid · 2025Vidarsdottir GM, Vidarsdottir H, Moller PHDOI: 10.17992/lbl.2025.09.853
Acute Appendicitis.JAMA · 2021Walter KDOI: 10.1001/jama.2021.20410
Appendicitis.ReviewAmerican family physician · 2016D'Souza N, Nugent K
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts acute appendicitis and distinguishes between complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.American journal of surgery · 2020Hajibandeh S, Hajibandeh S, Hobbs N et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.04.018
Appendicitis.ReviewThe Surgical clinics of North America · 1981Ballantine TVDOI: 10.1016/s0039-6109(16)42535-1
Imaging of appendicitis: Tips and tricks.ReviewEuropean journal of radiology · 2020Monsonis B, Mandoul C, Millet I et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2020.109165
[Appendicitis].La Revue du praticien · 1992Hay JM

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Image: Acute appendicitis Gross pathology.jpg

Show 7 more facts

Commons category: Appendicitis
ICPC 2 ID: D88
NCI Thesaurus ID: C35145
WordLift URL: data.medicalrecords.com/medicalrecords/healthwise/appendicitis
exact match: identifiers.org/doid/DOID:8337
ICD-9-CM: 541
P8168: Billère

Sources (9)

via Wikidata · CC0

~37 min read

Article

27 sections

Contents

Signs and symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Signs
Laboratory tests
Imaging
Ultrasound
Computed tomography
Magnetic resonance imaging
X-ray
Scoring systems
Pathology
Differential diagnosis
Management
Pain
Surgery
Open appendectomy
Laparoscopic appendectomy
Laparoscopic-assisted transumbilical appendectomy
Pre-surgery
After surgery
Prognosis
History
Epidemiology
See also
References
External links

Appendicitis is primarily caused by a blockage of the hollow portion in the appendix. This blockage typically results from a faecolith, a calcified "stone" made of feces. Some studies show a correlation between appendicoliths and disease severity. Other factors such as inflamed lymphoid tissue from a viral infection, intestinal parasites, gallstone, or tumors may also lead to this blockage. When the appendix becomes blocked, it experiences increased pressure, reduced blood flow, and bacterial growth, resulting in inflammation. This combination of factors causes tissue injury and, ultimately, tissue death. If this process is left untreated, it can lead to the appendix rupturing, which releases bacteria into the abdominal cavity, potentially leading to severe complications.