Is appendicitis contagious?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on January 27, 2025
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Appendicitis is an inflammation that occurs in the lumen of the appendix, including acute appendicitis and chronic appendicitis. Appendicitis is not contagious, as it is not an infectious disease, but rather a purulent inflammation. Therefore, there is no need to isolate patients with appendicitis. Appendicitis usually requires surgical removal, but it is important to note that surgery should not be performed if acute appendicitis has been present for more than 72 hours, or if an abscess has formed. The majority of surgeries are performed using laparoscopic appendectomy, a method which allows for a faster recovery post-operation.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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What to eat with appendicitis

During the acute phase of appendicitis, no food should be consumed. In the recovery or remission phase, a semi-liquid diet is appropriate, such as drinking rice soup, noodle soup, and vegetable soup, and consuming vegetables like Chinese cabbage and cabbage to supplement dietary fiber and vitamins. On the day of appendicitis surgery, eating is also prohibited. A semi-liquid diet is recommended for 1 to 2 days post-surgery, gradually transitioning to a normal diet over 3 to 5 days. After transitioning to a normal diet, foods like beef, lamb, and eggs can be consumed to supplement nutrients and promote wound healing.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Does chronic appendicitis cause fever?

Chronic appendicitis typically presents clinically as recurring pain and discomfort in the lower right abdomen. Usually, there are no signs of fever with chronic appendicitis. Only when the inflammation of chronic appendicitis is uncontrolled might a low-grade fever occur. Sometimes, when chronic appendicitis undergoes an acute episode and becomes a purulent infection, high fever can occur. In such cases of chronic appendicitis with high fever, complications like appendix perforation, diffuse peritonitis, and septicemia can arise. Therefore, if fever occurs in chronic appendicitis, timely anti-infection treatment should be administered. If the infection is not well-controlled, timely surgical treatment is recommended.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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Causes of Appendicitis

The appendix is connected to the cecum at one end, has a narrow lumen, and is rich in lymphatic tissue. The anatomical basis of the appendix makes it prone to inflammation. Generally, appendicitis is caused by different obstructions in the appendix, such as fecaliths, fecal masses, food residues, and parasites like roundworms, which can all lead to obstruction of the appendix and trigger acute appendicitis. Additionally, gastrointestinal dysfunction can also cause spasms and contractions of the muscles in the appendix wall, affecting the emptying of the appendix and its blood circulation, leading to inflammation of the appendix. Appendicitis requires timely treatment, and surgery might be necessary for symptomatic support.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Can appendicitis cause a fever?

Appendicitis can cause fever. After the fever, a routine blood test will show a significant increase in white blood cells, which is often referred to as an elevated blood profile. In addition to fever, appendicitis may also cause vomiting and nausea. A typical symptom is abdominal pain, starting around the navel and then gradually moving to the lower right abdomen. For the fever, active symptomatic fever reduction should be pursued, or appendectomy can be chosen. Currently, laparoscopic appendectomy is more common, with less bleeding during the operation and faster post-operative recovery.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Appendicitis location

The location of appendicitis is generally in the lower right abdomen, as the appendix is mostly located in the right iliac fossa. There are very few cases of situs inversus, where it is located on the left, but the appendix usually originates from the base of the cecum, attached to the posterior wall of the cecum, at the confluence of the three taeniae coli. Therefore, the surface projection of the appendix is mostly at the junction of the outer one-third of the line connecting the navel and the right anterior superior iliac spine, which is also commonly used as the marking point for surgical incisions. In cases of appendicitis, there may be pain in the upper right abdomen or pelvic region due to changes in the position of the appendix. For confirmed diagnoses of appendicitis, surgery is generally considered, and minimally invasive methods can be chosen. If an abscess forms around the appendix and the patient's condition can be managed, conservative treatment is usually preferred initially, followed by elective removal of the appendix after three months.