Can you drink alcohol with appendicitis?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on April 15, 2025
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Having appendicitis absolutely prohibits drinking alcohol, as alcohol can stimulate the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, causing appendicitis to worsen. For appendicitis, active treatment is necessary. During the acute phase, one should not eat anything. In the postoperative recovery or convalescence phase, a semi-liquid or liquid diet can be appropriately chosen. Currently, surgery is the predominant method for treating appendicitis, with laparoscopic appendectomy being a common procedure. This surgical method involves minimal bleeding during the operation and faster postoperative recovery, characterizing it as a minimally invasive treatment. Postoperative care should be enhanced, with increased water intake and more vegetables to prevent constipation.

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Is chronic appendicitis serious?

Chronic appendicitis can achieve good treatment outcomes through active surgical treatment or conservative treatment, and the cases of appendicitis here are not severe. However, a very small portion of patients with chronic appendicitis, especially those with underlying diseases such as diabetes, are at risk of developing a purulent infection of the appendix, which can lead to perforation of the appendix and result in diffuse peritonitis, sepsis, septic shock, and multiple organ failure. Thus, it can be said that there are indeed a few severe cases among patients with chronic appendicitis.

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Gastroenterology
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Laparoscopic appendectomy

Laparoscopic appendectomy is a type of minimally invasive surgery performed under general anesthesia using laparoscopic techniques to remove the appendix. During the operation, there is minimal bleeding, and recovery tends to be quicker, with less damage to the body. The scars left are small, consisting of three barely noticeable incisions. Typically, patients need to stay in the hospital for three to five days before they can be discharged. On the day of the surgery, patients are required to fast, and one to two days post-surgery, they may choose a semi-liquid diet and can start moving around. However, laparoscopic surgery is not suitable for individuals who cannot tolerate general anesthesia; instead, they must opt for an appendectomy through an incision at McBurney's point.

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

Chronic appendicitis is just a common gastrointestinal disease. Generally, chronic appendicitis does not involve fever. However, a low-grade fever may occur when the inflammation in some cases of chronic appendicitis is not well-controlled. A small percentage of chronic appendicitis can acutely flare up and lead to a purulent infection, causing purulent appendicitis, which may lead to perforation of the appendix, diffuse peritonitis, septic shock, and high fever. Therefore, it is essential to actively treat chronic appendicitis, and early surgical intervention is recommended.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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How long does acute appendicitis hurt?

The pain associated with appendicitis is directly related to the severity of the inflammation. If the inflammation is mild, pain can be significantly relieved after using antispasmodic analgesics. However, if acute appendicitis leads to a suppurative appendix or perforation, the abdominal pain will last for a very long time, accompanied by signs of peritoneal irritation, such as tenderness and rebound pain in the abdomen. Therefore, the main principle of treating acute appendicitis is to perform surgery to remove the suppurative appendix. Currently, laparoscopic appendectomy is a viable option, as it involves less bleeding and allows for a faster postoperative recovery.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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What tests are done for appendicitis?

Appendicitis examination primarily involves a physical examination. The patient lies flat with their legs bent, and the doctor stands on the patient's right side. The patient exposes their abdomen, and the doctor places their right palm flat in the middle of the abdomen, then smoothly performs a clockwise palpation, pressing the abdomen to check for rebound tenderness, especially at McBurney's point. If there is significant tenderness and rebound pain at McBurney's point, along with symptoms of fever and nausea, appendicitis is generally considered. An ultrasound can also be used as an auxiliary examination, where swelling of the appendix can be observed. Based on the physical examination and auxiliary tests, a preliminary diagnosis of appendicitis can be made.