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Most of us have a friend or at least a friend-of-a-friend that has experienced appendicitis. In fact, untreated appendicitis can lead to life-threatening complications. To ensure your health and safety, signs and symptoms of appendicitis should be evaluated immediately by a medical professional. Learn more about appendicitis here, including what may happen if your appendix ruptures and what to do if you suspect appendicitis.

Many physicians and medical experts believe that the appendix, which is a thin, pouch-like tube that lies near the meeting point of the small and large intestines, does not serve any essential function in the body. However, some speculate that the appendix may play an important role in the digestive tract. In any case, most agree that the appendix can be safely removed if needed — as in the event of appendicitis — without posing any threat to the patient.

The precise cause of appendicitis is not well understood, and it can affect anyone at any time, though it is more frequently seen in children. Your appendix is a small, thin, wormlike sac. Appendicitis can happen at any age, but it occurs most often in children and teenagers between the ages of 10 and A study in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found the risk of rupture was less than 2 percent when appendicitis was treated within 36 hours of the start of symptoms. It increased to 5 percent when it was treated 36 hours or more after the start of symptoms.

There are normally a lot of bacteria in your intestine. When the opening of the appendix gets blocked, bacteria get trapped inside and reproduce quickly, causing an infection. As this happens, pressure builds and the appendix swells. Eventually, it swells so much that the blood supply to part of the appendix gets cut off.

That part of the wall then dies. A hole or tear develops in the dead wall. The high pressure pushes the bacteria and pus into the abdominal cavity. So, a ruptured appendix usually oozes or leaks into the abdomen, rather than bursting like a balloon.

The symptoms of appendicitis can be similar to those of other conditions that affect the abdomen, such a stomach flu or ovarian cyst. For this reason, it can be hard to tell if you have appendicitis. If you have these symptoms and think you have appendicitis, get evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible. Prompt treatment is essential to avoid rupture.

Rupture can occur within 36 hours of the onset of symptoms. The classic symptoms of appendicitis are pain starting around the belly button followed by vomiting. Several hours later, the pain moves to the lower abdomen on the right side.

One study found only about half of the people who get appendicitis have these classic symptoms. The pain is often spread out all over the abdomen in babies and children. In pregnant and older people, the abdomen may be less tender and pain may be less severe. Once your appendix ruptures, symptoms vary depending on what happens. At first, you may actually feel better for a few hours because the high pressure in your appendix is gone along with your original symptoms.

When bacteria leave the intestine and enter the abdominal cavity, the lining on the inside of your abdomen and outside of abdominal organs become inflamed. This condition is called peritonitis.

The symptoms will be similar to those for appendicitis, except:. When this is successful, it forms an abscess. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Appendicitis Open pop-up dialog box Close. Appendicitis The appendix is a narrow, finger-shaped pouch that projects out from the colon.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Appendicitis. Accessed May 4, Appendectomy: Surgical removal of the appendix. American College of Surgeons.

Martin RF. Acute appendicitis in adults: Clinical manifestations and differential diagnosis. Smink D, et al.