Appendicitis

Appendicitis is an inflamed appendix, a small pouch attached to the large intestine. It causes belly pain that gets steadily worse and usually needs surgery. Catching it early keeps the appendix from bursting.

What Is It

The appendix sits in the lower right side of the belly. When it becomes blocked, it swells and can become infected. Appendicitis is most common between ages 10 and 30, but it can happen at any age. Without treatment, the appendix can burst as soon as 2 to 3 days after symptoms start.

Symptoms

Pain that starts near the belly button and moves to the lower right side
Pain that gets steadily worse over hours
Pain that is worse with walking, coughing, or bumps in the car
Loss of appetite
Nausea or vomiting after the pain starts
A low fever

Young children, pregnant women, and older adults often have less typical symptoms.

Not sure it’s appendicitis? A stomach flu usually starts with vomiting and diarrhea, and the cramping comes and goes. Appendicitis pain comes first and keeps getting worse. Read more about abdominal pain.

Treatment

At your visit: A provider examines the belly and checks temperature, urine, and blood. Appendicitis is confirmed with imaging at a hospital. Most people have surgery to remove the appendix. Some mild cases are treated with antibiotics.

While you wait to be seen:

Do not eat a large meal until you are checked
Do not take laxatives or use an enema
Do not put a heating pad on your belly
Have someone else drive you

Recovery after appendix surgery usually takes 1 to 3 weeks.

When to Get Care for Appendicitis

Watch at Home

Mild cramping that comes and goes
Pain that improves after passing gas or a bowel movement
No fever, and you are eating normally

Come to Urgent Care Today

Belly pain lasting more than a few hours that is not improving
Mild pain near the belly button with nausea
Mild lower right pain, and you can walk normally
A child with belly pain and a low fever

Go to the Emergency Department

Pain that has moved to the lower right side and keeps getting worse
Pain that is worse with walking, coughing, or jumping
Fever with worsening belly pain
A hard, swollen belly, or pain spreading across the whole belly
Sudden relief of severe pain, then pain that gets worse again

FAQ

What are the first signs of appendicitis?

The first sign of appendicitis is usually a dull pain near the belly button. Over several hours it moves to the lower right side and gets sharper, often with loss of appetite and nausea.

Where is appendicitis pain located?

Appendicitis pain usually settles in the lower right side of the belly, about halfway between the belly button and the hip bone. It often starts near the belly button first.

Can appendicitis go away on its own?

Appendicitis rarely goes away on its own and can burst if it is not treated. It needs to be checked the same day, and most cases are treated with surgery.

How fast does appendicitis get worse?

Appendicitis usually gets worse over 12 to 24 hours. The appendix can burst as soon as 2 to 3 days after symptoms start, so do not wait it out.

Can urgent care diagnose appendicitis?

Urgent care can examine you and run urine and blood tests to check for appendicitis. Confirming it usually needs a CT scan or ultrasound at a hospital, so Vitality Urgent Care directs likely cases to the emergency department.

What does appendicitis feel like in kids?

In kids, appendicitis often starts as pain near the belly button that moves to the lower right side. Children may walk hunched over, refuse to jump, lose their appetite, and run a low fever.

Last reviewed October 2026