Does appendicitis cause diarrhea?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on May 17, 2025
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Patients with appendicitis may experience diarrhea and abdominal pain, tenderness, and rebound pain due to spasms in the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by vomiting and nausea. Those with severe systemic infections may also have a fever. Currently, appendicitis is primarily treated surgically, with options including the traditional McBurney's incision or laparoscopic appendectomy. In cases of appendiceal suppuration, postoperative antibiotic treatment against infection should be selected, using anti-anaerobic agents, and attention must be paid to postoperative diet, focusing on soft, easily digestible foods.

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Written by Huang Gang
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Acute appendicitis clinical features

Acute appendicitis generally presents primarily as abdominal pain, specifically migratory pain to the lower right abdomen. Initially, the patient may experience stomach pain, which gradually shifts to pain in the lower right abdomen. Whether it is appendicitis needs to be diagnosed by a physical examination by a doctor, or an ultrasound of the appendix during the acute phase can be performed. If the appendix appears significantly swollen on the ultrasound, it can also confirm the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Typically, the best treatment for acute appendicitis is surgery, especially if the condition is very severe and critical, as it may lead to perforation of the appendix and result in purulent peritonitis, which is very serious and life-threatening. Therefore, once diagnosed with acute appendicitis, it is best to be hospitalized for surgery.

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Written by Si Li Li
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Which location does appendicitis hurt?

The typical symptom of appendicitis is pain in the lower right abdomen. Generally, during acute appendicitis, the pain can last for several hours or even longer, with about 70% to 80% of patients experiencing characteristic migratory pain in the lower right abdomen. Migratory pain in the lower right abdomen refers to initial pain in the upper abdomen that later manifests as persistent pain in the lower right abdomen. However, some patients initially present with pain in the lower right abdomen directly. In some cases of pregnant women with acute appendicitis, due to the appendix being pushed upward by the enlarged uterus, pain can also occur in the upper right abdomen. Additionally, acute appendicitis is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
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Does chronic appendicitis cause nausea?

Under normal circumstances, chronic appendicitis is characterized by recurrent discomfort and pain in the lower right abdomen. In terms of gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic appendicitis usually presents with bloating and indigestion, and rarely manifests symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. However, when chronic appendicitis undergoes an acute attack, it can also present gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting similar to those of acute appendicitis. Therefore, it can be said that chronic appendicitis can manifest gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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How long to rest after appendicitis surgery?

After an appendectomy, if there is no significant suppuration or infection, a recovery period of at least two weeks is required. During this period, it is important to rest, pay attention to diet, increase nutrition, and increase protein intake, such as eating more chicken, fish, and soy products. Also, consume more vegetables and fruits, engage in appropriate exercises to increase gastrointestinal motility. The surgical incision should be dressed regularly, and sutures can be removed after a week post-operation, then depending on the condition, decide whether to change the dressing again.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Appendicitis how many days to be discharged

The length of hospital stay after appendicitis treatment varies greatly depending on the individual's constitution, the severity of the appendicitis, and the method of treatment used. If the symptoms are mild and only conservative medication treatment is chosen, then you can be discharged after the symptoms disappear. If surgical treatment is chosen, then it's typical to observe for three to five days post-surgery; if there are no significant signs of infection or pus formation, then discharge can be considered, followed by observational treatment. If there is significant pus formation, or cases of gangrene or perforation that lead to severe peritonitis, routine anti-infection treatment should be administered post-surgery. Therefore, the treatment period may be longer, requiring a waiting period until the inflammation is completely resolved before discharge.