Worsening pain, fever, vomiting, a rigid or tender belly
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix that causes pain typically shifting to the right lower abdomen, with nausea, loss of appetite and fever. It is a surgical emergency, treated safely and quickly by laparoscopic appendix removal.
Inflammation of the appendix
Most common between ages 10 and 30, but possible at any age
Urgently — within hours of persistent right-lower-abdomen pain
Worsening pain, fever, vomiting, a rigid or tender belly
What is appendicitis?
Appendicitis is sudden inflammation of the appendix, a small pouch attached to the large intestine. It usually occurs when the appendix becomes blocked and infected, and it tends to worsen over hours, which is why it needs prompt assessment.
Symptoms & causes
Pain often begins around the navel and then shifts to the right lower abdomen, becoming sharper with movement or coughing. It is commonly accompanied by nausea, loss of appetite and a low-grade fever. The usual cause is blockage of the appendix opening.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is based on clinical examination supported by blood tests and an ultrasound or CT scan. Rapid assessment matters because a delay risks the appendix bursting (perforation), which makes treatment more complex.
Treatment options
The definitive treatment is laparoscopic appendicectomy — laparoscopic removal of the inflamed appendix. It is a safe, commonly performed operation with small incisions, minimal pain and a quick recovery in uncomplicated cases.
How we treat Appendicitis
Recommended treatment
Appendix
Minimally invasive removal of an inflamed appendix (laparoscopic appendicectomy) — quick recovery and minimal scarring.
View treatment details →Cashless insurance accepted at our network hospitals, with EMI options available. Every patient gets a written, transparent estimate before any procedure — no surprises.
Dr. Avinash Tank, MBBS · MS (General Surgery) · MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology, SGPGIMS)
SGPGIMS (India's premier GI centre) + advanced training in Japan & South Korea. Super-specialist gastrointestinal, bariatric & cancer surgeon treating Appendicitis at Dwarika Hospital — Gastro, Bariatric & Laparoscopic Surgery Center.
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More on Appendicitis
Case LibraryDifficult Laparoscopic Appendectomy for Acute Retrocecal Appendicitis with Dense Periappendiceal Adhesions
BlogAcute Appendicitis
AppendixAppendix Perforation: Who is at risk & treatment
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Appendicitis usually worsens over hours and can lead to a burst appendix, so it should be assessed by a surgeon urgently.
Some early cases settle with antibiotics, but symptoms often return. Laparoscopic removal of the appendix remains the definitive treatment for most patients.
In uncomplicated cases most people go home within a day or two and return to routine activity within about a week.
An untreated appendix can burst, spreading infection in the abdomen — a far more serious condition than early appendicitis.
Super-specialist GI, bariatric & cancer surgeon. SGPGIMS (India's premier GI centre) + advanced training in Japan & South Korea. Read full profile →
Last reviewed: July 2026