appendicitis
n. uncountable C1 Advanced US //əˌpɛnˌdɪˈsaɪtɪz// UK //ɐpˌɛndɪsˈaɪtɪs// ap·pen·dici·tis
n. a painful illness where the small tube at the end of your large intestine becomes swollen and infected. It usually needs surgery to fix.
n. inflammation of the appendix, a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the cecum. Often requires surgical removal to prevent rupture and peritonitis.
He went to the hospital because he thought he had appendicitis.
The doctor suspected appendicitis after the patient reported severe pain in the lower right side of his abdomen.
While some cases of appendicitis can be managed with antibiotics, the standard medical protocol remains an emergency appendectomy to prevent the organ from bursting and releasing infection into the abdominal cavity.
From appendic- + -itis.