Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a finger-like glandular piece of tissue that connects to the beginning of the large intestine_usually at the lower right side of the abdomen_. The most common symptoms of appendicitis are abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. Abdominal pain usually begins in the center of the abdomen, around the belly button. Later, the pain may move down to the right, around the location of the appendix. It may also be tender to the touch.
After abdominal pain begins, you usually develop a slight fever, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. The fact that abdominal pain begins before nausea and vomiting, rather than after, is one clue to suspect appendicitis rather than an intestinal infection.
Other symptoms include: diarrhea (usually small stools with mucus), urinary tract symptoms (urinating very frequently and/or an uncomfortably strong urge to urinate), constipation, and respiratory symptoms.
If appendicitis is not treated, the infected appendix may break open and spread its infection to other areas of the abdomen giving you a very high fever.
There is no specific amount of time for appendicitis, but once symptoms of appendicitis begin, it takes as little as 24 hours for an infected appendix to break open. This will spread the infection to other areas of the abdomen, increase the risk for serious complications, and make treatment harder.
If the appendix is removed surgically before it breaks open, complications are rare. Hospital stay is usually 2 or 3 days.
