COVID is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. Get the latest public health information from CDC: www. The most common symptom of appendicitis is pain in your abdomen. Symptoms can be different for each person and can seem like the following conditions that also cause pain in the abdomen:. Appendicitis can have more than one cause, and in many cases the cause is not clear. Possible causes include:.
How to Tell If That Pain Is Your Appendix – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic
Appendicitis is a painful swelling of the appendix, a finger-like pouch connected to the large intestine. The condition starts as a pain in the centre of the abdomen. Appendicitis is a medical emergency that usually requires urgent surgery to remove the appendix. If left untreated, the appendix can burst and cause potentially life-threatening infections. It's not exactly clear what the causes of appendicitis are, although it's thought to occur when something, usually a small piece of faeces, blocks the entrance of the appendix, causing it to swell.
Appendicitis can strike at any age. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. We all can survive without the 2-toinch, worm-shaped organ.
Appendicitis happens when the appendix becomes inflamed. Early symptoms can vary between age groups, and they can be confused with symptoms of other conditions. The symptoms can be uncomfortable, painful, and potentially life-threatening if left untreated, so it is important to be able to recognize them. Sudden appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain requiring surgery in the United States U. It most commonly occurs between the during the teenage years and the 20s, but it can develop at any age.