Antibiotics may be a better alternative to surgery for treating appendicitis, according to doctors at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.
Infected and inflamed appendixes are removed before they burst and cause a potentially deadly infection.
The doctors' analysis of previous research published on the BMJ website concluded that giving antibiotics was an "effective and safe" alternative.
Other doctors cautioned that drug treatment risked the illness returning.
About seven out of every 100 people in the UK will get appendicitis during their lifetime. As a result, removing the organ is one of the most common operations performed by the NHS in the UK.
Alternative?
The team in Nottingham analysed data from four trials of antibiotics in a total of 900 patients with appendicitis.
After one year, treatment with antibiotics meant nearly two-thirds of patients did not need surgery.
Prof Dileep Lobo told the BBC: "We need to consider treating with antibiotics as a significant number will get better."
He said there was also a reduction in complications such as wound infection in antibiotic treatment compared with surgery.
He says the treatment would be only for patients with "uncomplicated appendicitis" - those with an inflamed appendix, but no other symptoms such as perforation, gangrene or pus. Other patients would still have the organ removed.
Note: Research item (No Reference needed, courtesy : BBC.co.uk)
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