Appendicitis
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small tube attached to the large bowel in the lower right of the abdomen. It is a surgical emergency: an inflamed appendix can burst within a day or two and spread infection through the abdomen. It can happen at any age but is most common in children, teenagers and young adults. In Nigeria it is often first treated at home as 'ulcer', typhoid or malaria, and that delay is what makes it dangerous.
Find a General Surgery SpecialistMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Symptoms
- Pain that starts around the navel and moves to the lower right abdomen
- Pain that worsens with walking, coughing or bumps in the road
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting after the pain starts
- Low-grade fever
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Less typical pain in young children, older people and pregnant women
When to See a Doctor
Go to a hospital emergency department the same day if you have abdominal pain that is getting worse over several hours, especially in the lower right side, with loss of appetite, vomiting or fever. Do not take laxatives, and avoid strong painkillers or antibiotics from a chemist before you are seen, as they can hide the signs. Pain that suddenly eases and then returns across the whole abdomen can mean the appendix has burst.
Treatment options
- Examination, blood tests and an ultrasound or CT scan
- Appendicectomy, by keyhole (laparoscopic) or open surgery, usually within hours of diagnosis
- Intravenous antibiotics before and after surgery
- Drainage and longer antibiotics if the appendix has burst and formed an abscess
- Antibiotics alone in selected uncomplicated cases, under a surgeon's care in hospital
What it costs on Mezo
Published cash prices for the operations used to treat this condition. Your own quote follows an examination.
Common Questions
Can appendicitis be treated with drugs instead of surgery?
Some carefully selected patients with mild, uncomplicated appendicitis are treated with antibiotics in hospital, but some of them will still need surgery later. That decision belongs with a surgeon after a scan, never with self-treatment at home.
Is it typhoid or appendicitis?
Both can cause fever and abdominal pain, and a positive Widal test is not reliable proof of typhoid. Pain that settles in the lower right abdomen and gets steadily worse should be examined by a doctor the same day, not treated as typhoid at home.
How long is recovery after an appendix operation?
After an uncomplicated keyhole appendicectomy most people go home within a day or two and return to normal activities in two to three weeks. Recovery takes longer if the appendix had burst.
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