Appendicitis Can Be Treated Without Surgery

In general, appendicitis is treated with surgery. However, research shows that some cases of this disease can be treated only with antibiotics. The appendix is a small, thin sac-shaped organ measuring 5-10 cm connected to the large intestine. This organ can become inflamed, called appendicitis or appendicitis which has the potential to cause serious complications. If not treated properly, the inflamed appendix can rupture. Bacteria from the intestine can then contaminate the organs in the abdominal cavity and result in life-threatening infections. Generally this condition is treated with surgery to remove the appendix and antibiotics can be used as part of the treatment. Before carrying out surgery, doctors can give antibiotics to fight bacteria and prevent infection in the wound after surgery. In the case of a ruptured appendix, antibiotics are also used to prevent infection in the abdominal cavity after the appendix is ​​removed. But there are studies that show that certain categories of appendicitis can be treated only with antibiotics. The following are some points from the findings.

When can appendicitis be treated only with antibiotics?

Some paramedics use antibiotics to treat swollen appendicitis. At this stage, the appendix is ​​not in a rupture condition so it does not have to be treated with surgery as soon as possible. Appendectomy is only mandatory if disease in the appendix has resulted in:

• The appendix experiences inflammation (inflammation) and / or severe infection.
• Rupture of the appendix.
• Peritonitis or infection of the lining of the abdominal cavity.

So in addition to the case above, mild intestinal ailments may be treated only with antibiotics.

Is antibiotics enough to deal with appendicitis?

A study shows that antibiotics can effectively treat around 63 percent of appendicitis without requiring surgery. The study said that mild appendicitis can be cured with antibiotics, but for severe cases that cause appendicitis to rupture it must be treated with appendicitis surgery.

What are the shortcomings of managing appendicitis with antibiotics alone compared to surgery?

In fact, around 20 percent of patients treated with antibiotics only return appendicitis within a year of recovering. About 1 in 5 people who relapse have a ruptured appendix or other complications. A study in Sweden administered antibiotics in the form of infusion for 2 days to patients with appendicitis that has not been severe. After that, patients are asked to take antibiotics for 10 days. Patients whose bodies do not respond within 24 hours will be operated on immediately. About 88 percent of patients who receive antibiotics can actually recover without surgery. But within a period of 5 years later, about 24 percent of patients who were successfully treated with antibiotics again experienced appendicitis. From the above research it can be concluded that if there really is a situation where surgery must be postponed, then the patient can be treated with antibiotics alone. But with antibiotics, there is a 20 percent risk that appendicitis will recur. The 20 percent number may not be high, but it cannot be completely ignored. However, for those who are at high risk of peritonitis and elderly people with appendicitis, it is safer to be treated with surgery than antibiotics alone. At present, doctors will generally take surgery to treat appendicitis. If the doctor recommends treatment with antibiotics alone, it could be that the appendicitis disease suffered by the patient is indeed mild enough to be treated without surgery. If you experience pain in the lower right abdomen, fever up to 39 degrees Celsius, no appetite, nausea and vomiting, swollen stomach, unable to pass gas, difficulty and pain during urination, stomach cramps, and constipation or diarrhea, come immediately emergency department at the nearest hospital because it could be you have appendicitis.