Some medical professionals refer to appendicitis as having four stages. These are simple appendicitis, suppurative appendicitis, gangrenous appendicitis, and perforated appendicitis.

The appendix is a small organ that is attached to the beginning of the large intestine. It is located in the lower right area of the abdomen.

Appendicitis causes the appendix to become inflamed. This inflammation can cause the appendix to swell and can cause the buildup of pus.

Without treatment, the appendix can burst, causing infection to spread throughout the abdomen and even into the bloodstream.

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Some medical professionals refer to appendicitis as having four stages. Below is a breakdownTrusted Source of the four stages of appendicitis.

1. Simple appendicitis

Simple appendicitis occurs when a person has an inflamed appendix without the presence of necrosis or perforation.

Necrosis is the irreversible injury of cells, which leads to cell death. It is a complication that develops during gangrenous appendicitis. Perforation occurs when the appendix bursts. This complication occurs during perforated appendicitis.

2. Suppurative appendicitis

Suppurative appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed and fills with a type of white blood cell called neutrophils. Neutrophils are the most commonTrusted Source form of white blood cell that work to fight infection in the body.

If a person has suppurative appendicitis, the inflammation makes its way through the layers of the appendix and can cause ulcers to develop within the appendix.

Suppurative appendicitis may also cause abscesses to develop in the appendix and blood clots to form in the surrounding blood vessels.

3. Gangrenous appendicitis

Gangrenous appendicitis occurs when inflammation causes necrosis in the cells in the wall of the appendix.

If a person does not receive treatment for gangrenous appendicitis, it can cause the appendix to burst.

4. Perforated appendicitis

Perforated appendicitis is the medical term for a burst appendix. This is a severe complication of appendicitis.

Risk factors that may cause the appendix to burst include:

  • a weakened immune system
  • previous abdominal surgery
  • co-occurring medical conditions
  • a delayed diagnosis
  • young or older age
  • being male
  • pregnancy

Medical professionals sometimes classify appendicitis in the above stages. In other casesTrusted Source, they classify appendicitis as uncomplicated or complicated.

Uncomplicated appendicitis

Uncomplicated appendicitis occurs when a person has an inflamed appendix without certain complications being present. These complications include necrosis or perforation.

If a person has uncomplicated appendicitis, medical professionals may treat it conservatively with antibiotics, and there is no need for surgery. In some cases, uncomplicated appendicitis may even resolve on its own without antibiotic treatment.

Complicated appendicitis

Complicated appendicitis occurs when a person has an inflamed appendix and necrosis or perforation is present.

Complicated appendicitis may also cause the appendix to swell and fill with blood. It also causes severe tissue damage and may lead to ulcers developing. Small abscesses may also form in the appendix wall, and blood clots in surrounding blood vessels may occur.

If a person has complicated appendicitis, they will often require emergency surgery to treat it.

The most commonTrusted Source symptom of appendicitis is the presence of abdominal pain. A person with appendicitis may experience abdominal pain that:

  • begins near the belly button and moves lower and to the right-hand side of the abdomen
  • starts very suddenly
  • worsens when the person moves
  • worsens when the person:
    • takes deep breaths
    • coughs
    • sneezes

This pain may be severe and can feel different from any other pain the person has previously felt. It can also occur on its own before a person develops other symptoms of appendicitis.

Other common symptoms of appendicitis include:

In some cases, a person with appendicitis may also develop bowel-related symptoms, such as:

  • constipation or diarrhea
  • the inability to pass gas
  • the feeling that a bowel movement may relieve discomfort

When diagnosing appendicitis, a doctor will review a person’s medical history and discuss their symptoms. They will also perform a physical exam and may use lab or imaging tests to confirm their diagnosis.

When checking a person’s medical history, a doctor may ask them:

  • when their abdominal pain began
  • what the pain feels like
  • the location of the pain
  • what other medical conditions the person has had in the past

During a physical exam, a doctor may:

  • press all of the areas of the abdomen
  • listen to the abdomen using a stethoscope
  • press the right knee as the person lifts their leg
  • flex and rotate the right leg while the person lies on their left side

A doctor may also use the following lab tests to determine whether a person’s abdominal pain is appendicitis:

  • blood tests to look for signs of:
    • infection
    • inflammation
    • dehydration
  • urine tests to rule out:
    • kidney stones
    • bladder infections
  • pregnancy tests to rule out pregnancy

A doctor may also use imaging tests to look for signs of appendicitis. These tests can identify:

  • blockages within the appendix
  • inflammation and abscesses within the appendix
  • an enlarged appendix
  • a burst appendix

Imaging tests that may be useful include:

  • Abdominal ultrasound: This scan uses sound waves to create images of structures inside the body. It does not expose a person to radiation.
  • MRI scans: MRI scans use radio waves and strong magnetic fields to create pictures of internal organs and soft tissues within the body.
  • CT scans: CT scans use X-rays to create detailed images of structures inside the body.

If a person has simple appendicitis, a medical professional may be ableTrusted Source to treat it with antibiotics alone.

However, in most cases, a medical professional will treat appendicitis by surgically removing the appendix. The name of this surgical procedure is appendectomy.

A doctor will recommend surgery if the person experiences:

  • ongoing abdominal pain
  • fever
  • signs of a burst appendix
  • signs of an infection in the appendix

It is important that a medical professional carries out an appendectomy quickly to reduce the chances of the appendix bursting.

Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix. Some medical professionals refer to the condition as having four stages. These are simple, suppurative, gangrenous, and perforated appendicitis.

Appendicitis can also be classified as uncomplicated (without necrosis or perforation) or complicated (with these complications present).

Common symptoms of appendicitis include abdominal pain, nausea, fever, and loss of appetite. Diagnosis involves physical exams, blood tests, and imaging tests, such as ultrasounds or CT scans.

Treatment usually involves surgery to remove the appendix. However, medical professionals may treat simple cases of appendicitis with antibiotics. Timely treatment is essential to prevent serious complications like a ruptured appendix.