Appendicitis is a common medico-surgical condition. Appendicitis is nothing but an inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is a small pouch attached to the beginning of the large intestine in the right lower part of the abdomen. The function of the appendix is still not understood, but it is largely considered to be almost a useless body organ. It is one of the most common causes of emergency abdominal surgery in order to avoid rupture of the appendix into the abdomen.

It is a sequel to acute appendicitis. In some patients the symptoms of appendicitis, are less intense and continue for a long duration, they may be continuous or intermittent. They may present as pain in the abdomen, which will be bothersome but not incapacitating. The person may experience pain and abdominal discomfort in the right iliac fossa. Partial obstruction of the appendix and milder bacterial infection are generally responsible. They may settle down with a course of antibiotics but resurface again. This also indicates a lowered immune system.

It usually occurs when the appendix becomes blocked by hard fecal (stool) matter, undigested food, a foreign body or rarely a tumor. When the appendix is blocked, it becomes inflamed due to swelling and ulceration of mucous membrane lining and resulting in a condition termed appendicitis. If the blockage continues, the inflamed tissue becomes infected with bacteria and begins to die from a lack of blood supply, which finally results in the rupture of the appendix (perforated or ruptured appendix).

Infection in the gut or other parts of the body may also inflame the appendix and cause appendicitis.

Other conditions that cause abdominal pain may have symptoms similar to the symptoms of appendicitis:

Diagnosis can be made clinically by a history of symptoms given by the patient and by the presence of the following signs on examining the patient.