When doctors and patients consider the appendix, it's often with urgency. In cases of appendicitis, the clock could be ticking down to a life-threatening burst. Thus, despite recent research ...

It was the first day of spring break in 1992 in Phoenix, Ariz. and 12-year-old Heather Smith was excited for her family's upcoming ski trip. But before Smith and her family had even packed their snow ...

Appendicitis is a condition in which the appendix, a finger-shaped pouch that opens into the large intestine, becomes swollen and filled with pus. Appendicitis can be caused by a bacterial infection ...

Our appendix, a thin tube positioned where our small intestine meets our large intestine, is a perplexing organ. In fact, many believe it to be rather useless, offering no real perks for our health.

Laura holds a Master's in Experimental Neuroscience and a Bachelor's in Biology from Imperial College London. Her areas of expertise include health, medicine, psychology, and neuroscience.View full ...

We have all seen movies, series, and have known of someone in our lives who got their appendix removed. But do we know what this organ's actual role is? It is a small finger-like pouch, but has a role ...

A young child arrives at the emergency room after several days of abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea and is sent home with a diagnosis of viral gastritis and treatment for the symptoms. The child ...

A sudden stomachache, nausea, or fever is often assumed to be food poisoning or indigestion, but these symptoms can sometimes signal a more serious condition—appendicitis. In its early stages, ...

Appendicitis is not an inherited condition, but genetics may play a role. However, the cause of appendicitis is often unclear. Appendicitis refers to inflammation of the appendix. An infection may ...

Gwen Deely’s story is an example of how not to deal with a health crisis when traveling abroad. She realizes she’s lucky to be alive. Deely, 66, who lives in Manhattan, was on an overnight flight from ...