Study: Antibiotics Usually OK for Appendicitis

Most people with appendicitis probably can get antibiotics instead of surgery, a study finds. The new study included 530 young or middle-aged adults. All of them had appendicitis, an inflamed appendix. They did not have extra problems, such as an abscess or a hole in the appendix. These complicated cases require surgery. About 80% of appendicitis cases are the simple type. People in the study were randomly divided into groups. Those in the surgery group had their appendixes removed. Those in the other group received 3 types of antibiotics. Their treatment lasted a total of 10 days. Of those who got the medicines, 27% needed to have the appendix removed within the next year because appendicitis returned. But 73% were fine and did not need surgery. Those who had delayed surgery did not have any more problems than those who had surgery right away.