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Antibiotics can treat appendicitis for many patients, no surgery needed

After 10 years, more than half still did not need an appendectomy, new data show

An illustration shows the ghostly outline of a human body with the internal organs and bones visible. The appendix shows up as a bright pink squiggle attached to the intestines.

Appendicitis is a painful inflammation of the appendix (shown in pink). But in some cases, treatment with antibiotics rather than removing the organ can fix the problem.

SEBASTIAN KAULITZKI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images Plus

By Laura Dattaro

More than half of people who receive antibiotics to treat appendicitis do not see their disease come back 10 years after the initial illness, a new study shows.