Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a mostly-vestigial organ attached to the large intestine. The most common cause of this disease is blockage of the hollow part of the appendix by a fecal impaction, although it can also be caused by viral or parasitic infections, tumors, and gallstones. Symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and decreased appetite, but about forty percent of patients do not show these symptoms. Appendicitis is usually treated by appendectomy, the surgical removal of the appendix. If left untreated, the inflamed appendix can rupture, leading to further complications including sepsis and peritonitis.
