The appendix is a small, tube-like organ attached to the first part of the large intestine, also called the colon. It is located in the lower right area of the abdomen. It has no known function. A blockage inside of the appendix causes appendicitis. The blockage leads to increased pressure, problems with blood flow and inflammation. If the blockage is not treated, the appendix can break open and leak infection into the body.
Symptoms may include
- Pain and/or swelling in the abdomen
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Inability to pass gas
- Low fever
Appendicitis is a medical emergency. Treatment almost always involves removing the appendix. Anyone can get appendicitis. It happens most often to people between the ages of 10 and 30.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
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Appendicitis
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/appendicitis/index.htm
- Appendicitis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/appendicitis/DS00274/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Abdominal Pain(DSHI Systems) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.freemd.com/abdominal-pain/visit-virtual-doctor.htm
- Abdominal Pain, Short-Term(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/527.printerview.html
- Appendectomy (Removal of the Appendix)(American College of Surgeons) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZAC37TMWC&sub_cat=553
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Laparoscopic Appendectomy(Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons) - http://www.sages.org/publications/publication.php?id=PI08
Also available in Spanish http://www.sages.org/publications/publication.php?id=PI08S
- Appendix Stones (Fecal Stones): A Cause of Appendicitis?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/appendix-stones/HQ00249/METHOD=print
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Appendicitis(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Appendicitis%22
- Article: Therapeutic impact of CT of the appendix in a community... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18806151&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Surgery for appendicitis: is it necessary? - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18687030&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Acute appendicitis: meta-analysis of diagnostic performance of CT and graded... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18682583&tool=MedlinePlus
- Appendicitis -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=appendicitis[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- American College of Surgeons - http://www.facs.org/
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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
- Appendicitis(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/ill_injure/sick/appendicitis.html
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Appendicitis(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/stomach/appendicitis.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/infecciones/appendicitis_esp.html
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Pediatric Abdominal Ultrasound Imaging(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=abdomus-pdi
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=abdomus-pdi
- Appendicitis(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/infections/intestinal/appendicitis.html
- Digestive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/digestivesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Appendicitis is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
Appendicitis - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/appendicitis.html