DEAR READER: Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. This small, fingerlike tube hangs from the lower right side of the large intestine. It usually becomes inflamed because of an infection or ...

When waste material passes through the colon, it can sometimes clog the appendix. This blockage allows bacteria to multiply ...

There are four stages of appendicitis, which describe its severity and whether it has caused any complications: simple, supportive, gangrenous, and perforated. These range from mild inflammation ...

You may have heard that astronauts have their appendix removed before leaving Earth. After all, people say you can live without this organ because it serves no purpose, but how much truth is there in ...