Most people know only two things about the appendix: You don’t need it – and if it bursts, you need surgery fast. That basic story traces back at least to Charles Darwin, the English naturalist who ...

For decades, the human appendix was casually dismissed as a “useless” vestige. Modern research and clinical experience, however, suggest that this small, narrow pouch, attached to the cecum in the ...

It was the first day of spring break in 1992 in Phoenix, and 12-year-old Heather Smith was excited for her family's upcoming ski trip. But before Smith and her family had even packed their snow pants, ...

(CNN) — Surgery to remove the appendix, called appendectomy, is the go-to treatment for patients with appendicitis and is one of the most common surgical procedures in the U.S. However, antibiotic ...

Lindsay Curtis is a health & medical writer in South Florida. She worked as a communications professional for health nonprofits and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of ...

Untreated appendicitis may cause your appendix to rupture (burst), resulting in an infection. Symptoms associated with a ruptured appendix include severe abdominal pain, fever, chills, and weakness.

Chronic appendicitis is a long-lasting inflammation of the appendix. It can become extremely painful and, in some cases, life threatening. The main symptom is abdominal pain. Treatment for chronic ...

Appendicitis is a potentially serious condition that occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed and infected. While the small organ tucked in the lower right abdomen often goes unnoticed, problems can ...