Appendicitis treated with antibiotics: Overview
Appendicitis is one of the causes of serious belly pain. It happens when the appendix becomes inflamed. The appendix is a small sac that is shaped like a finger and is attached to your large intestine.
This condition is usually treated with surgery to remove the appendix. Some cases can be treated with antibiotics.
You'll need to keep watching your symptoms at home. With antibiotic treatment, there's still a chance that the appendix will need to be removed.
If your symptoms continue or get worse, call your doctor or get medical care right away. Appendicitis can get serious very quickly.
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is one of the causes of serious belly pain. It happens when the appendix becomes infected and inflamed. The appendix is a small sac shaped like a finger that is attached to the large intestine.
Appendicitis is most common in people between the ages of 10 and 30, although it can occur at any age. Common symptoms of appendicitis include:
- Pain in the belly. The pain may begin around the belly button.
- Pain in the belly that gets stronger and moves below the belly button to the lower right side.
- Pain that does not go away and gets worse when the person moves, walks, or coughs.
- Pain in any part of the belly or on the side.
- Nausea, vomiting, and not wanting to eat.
- Constipation, back pain, and a fever.
- Feeling sick and having belly pain that is hard to describe.
If the infection gets worse, the wall of the appendix can break open (rupture). This spreads infection into the belly area, causing peritonitis. Peritonitis is a serious condition that needs medical treatment right away.
The main treatment for appendicitis is surgery to remove the appendix (appendectomy).
What are the symptoms of appendicitis?
Symptoms of appendicitis include:
- Pain near the belly button that moves to the lower right side of the belly. The pain may get worse if you move, walk, or cough.
- Fever.
- Nausea and vomiting.
Sometimes the only symptom is that you feel sick and you have belly pain that's hard to describe.
Severe belly pain needs medical care right away. Moderate belly pain that doesn't go away after 4 hours should prompt a call to your doctor. If you think you could have appendicitis, you need to see a doctor.
How is appendicitis treated?
Appendicitis is usually treated with surgery to remove the appendix. Some cases can be treated with antibiotics. In those cases, there's still a chance that the appendix will need to be removed later.
If you need surgery, your doctor may make a cut (incision) in your belly. Or the doctor may use a tool called a laparoscope to remove your appendix through a few small cuts.
If you aren't treated in time, your appendix can burst. This can cause serious problems. It's best to take out the appendix before it bursts.
If your appendix does burst, surgery may be harder to do. You may also need other treatment.
How is appendicitis diagnosed?
Your doctor will do a physical exam and ask you questions about your symptoms, when they started, and what was happening before the pain began. You also may have blood and urine tests to look for infection. You may need a CT scan or an ultrasound of your belly.
How can you care for yourself when you might have appendicitis?
There are things you can do if you may have appendicitis. Don't eat or drink anything, unless your doctor says it is okay. If you need surgery, it's best to have an empty stomach. Don't take laxatives. If you have appendicitis, they may make the appendix burst. Follow your doctor's instructions about taking medicines.
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a common reason for belly pain. It happens when the appendix becomes infected and inflamed.
Your appendix is a small, finger-shaped sac that is attached to your large intestine. Experts do not know what the appendix does in the body. Most of the time it does not cause problems.
What causes appendicitis?
It's often not clear why someone gets appendicitis. In some cases, it can be caused by a hard piece of stool blocking the opening to the appendix. Then bacteria can grow in the appendix and cause an infection.
Appendicitis treated with antibiotics: When to call
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You passed out (lost consciousness).
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You have new or worse belly pain on your lower right side.
- You have nausea and don't want to eat.
- You are vomiting.
- You have a fever.
- You cannot pass stools or gas.
- Your symptoms are getting worse.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- You do not get better as expected.
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