How fast does appendicitis happen

After abdominal pain begins, a person with appendicitis may develop a slight fever, have a loss of appetite, feel nauseated, or vomit. The pain can become steadily worse. Of course, some of the symptoms of appendicitis can happen in other illnesses like kidney stones, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections. Once the appendicitis symptoms appear, it can take as little as 24 to 72 hours for the infected appendix to rupture. If the appendix ruptures, the infection can spread to other areas of the abdomen, increasing the risk of serious complications and making treatment more difficult.

If you suspect that you have appendicitis, call a doctor immediately. Appendicitis is an emergency that must be treated surgically. To help make a diagnosis, your doctor will ask you about your medical history and do a physical exam. The doctor will usually order some blood tests and urine studies, and may recommend X-rays, a CAT scan, or an ultrasound. The doctor will decide whether you need surgery. Ask before taking any pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen because your doctor will need to examine your abdomen for signs of pain and tenderness.

Also, if your doctor suspects you have appendicitis, you will probably be asked to stop eating or drinking an important precaution when a person might be having surgery. Appendicitis is treated with surgery to remove the infected appendix.

The operation is called an appendectomy. To prepare for the surgery, a person will receive anesthesia , which puts him or her in a deep sleep and prevents pain. An appendectomy usually means a hospital stay of 1 to 3 days, and most have no complications.

However, if the infected appendix ruptures before surgery, the patient usually stays in the hospital longer to receive antibiotics to kill bacteria that may have spread to the abdominal cavity. Even if the appendix has not ruptured, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics because they can decrease the risk of infection after surgery. Get help from your doctor right away if you suspect that you have appendicitis, because this is a surgical emergency.

Quick treatment of appendicitis can help prevent complications and get you back on your feet. Note: All information on KidsHealth is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. All rights reserved. Find a Doctor. While nobody knows what its function is, we do know that removing it is not harmful.

Mayo Clinic The appendix connects to your large intestine. Appendicitis occurs when something — mucus, foreign object, or most often stool waste — blocks the opening between the appendix and the large intestine.

The blockage causes irritation, inflammation, and possibly an infection. The main symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain. You may feel discomfort in the entire stomach area. However, there could be additional symptoms such as:. Symptoms of appendicitis come on suddenly and intensify quickly. Pain may worsen when you move, take a deep breath, cough, or sneeze.

Acute appendicitis is a severe and sudden condition, with symptoms usually developing over one or two days. If you suspect your abdominal pain is due to appendicitis, you need to seek immediate medical attention. When left untreated, you run the risk of having your appendix burst a condition known as peritonitis. Peritonitis is a severe life-threatening condition caused by bacteria from your ruptured appendix spilling into your abdominal cavity.

Diagnosing appendicitis can be tricky. Symptoms are often unclear or similar to those of other illnesses, including gallbladder problems, bladder or urinary tract infection, kidney stones, intestinal infection, and ovary problems. Although these tests can help diagnose appendicitis:. Appendicitis can be life-threatening, and it requires immediate medical care. The appendix then becomes sore and swollen. The blood supply to the appendix stops as the swelling and soreness get worse.

Without enough blood flow, the appendix starts to die. The appendix can burst or develop holes or tears in its walls, which allow stool, mucus, and infection to leak through and get inside the belly.

The result can be peritonitis, a serious infection. Do not take pain medicines. They may hide other symptoms your healthcare provider needs to know about. Appendicitis symptoms may look like other health problems. Always see your healthcare provider to be sure. Your healthcare provider will ask about your past health and do a physical exam. He or she may also have you take the following tests:. If your appendix has not burst then your recovery from an appendectomy will only take a few days.

If your appendix has burst, your recovery time will be longer and you will need antibiotic medicine. You can live a normal life without your appendix. Changes in diet or exercise are usually not needed. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. What causes appendicitis? Who is at risk for appendicitis?

Appendicitis affects 1 in 1, people living in the U. Most cases of appendicitis happen to people between the ages of 10 and 30 years. Having a family history of appendicitis may raise your risk, especially if you are a man.

For a child, having cystic fibrosis also seems to raise the risk of getting appendicitis. What are the symptoms of appendicitis?

The following are common symptoms of appendicitis. Your own symptoms may vary. Pain in the abdomen is the most common symptom. This pain: May start in the area around your belly button and move to the lower right-hand side of your belly. It may also start in the lower right-hand side of your belly.

Often gets worse as time goes on. May feel worse when you are moving, taking deep breaths, being touched, and coughing or sneezing.