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Inflammation (a cellular response to injury or blockage) of the appendix (a tube of tissue that extends from a portion of the large intestine, usually along the lower right-hand side of the abdomen) can cause abdominal pain and is considered a medical emergency. Although it can strike at any age, appendicitis is rare under 2 years of age and most commonly occurs between the ages of 10 and 30 years. The appendix has no apparent function, but if an inflamed appendix is not treated, it can rupture and release its contents into the surrounding abdominal cavity. This can cause peritonitis (painful inflammation of the lining of the intestines and abdominal cavity). The July 25, 2007, issue of JAMA includes an article that discusses the clinical features of children with this potentially life-threatening condition.

SYMPTOMS

• Dull pain near the navel or upper abdomen that becomes sharp as it moves to the lower . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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RELATED ARTICLE

Does This Child Have Appendicitis?
David G. Bundy, Julie S. Byerley, E. Allen Liles, Eliana M. Perrin, Jessica Katznelson, and Henry E. Rice
JAMA. 2007;298(4):438-451.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT