Your child had surgery to remove the appendix (an appendectomy). While your child was asleep, the surgeon made a small cut in the belly, removed the appendix, then closed the cut with dissolvable stitches. Follow these instructions to keep your child comfortable during recovery.

Pain Medicines

Follow your care team’s instructions for giving any pain medicines. This may include acetaminophen (such as Tylenol^® or a store brand), ibuprofen (such as Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand), or prescription pain medicine. Some pain medicines include the same or similar ingredients. To avoid giving too much, give the medicines exactly as your care team recommends.

Eating and Drinking

• Your child may have a sore throat and trouble swallowing from the breathing tube that was used during surgery. Give plenty of liquids and soft foods until the pain eases.
• Your child can eat regular food but may not be hungry at first. Start by offering a clear diet of things like broth, gelatin, and watered-down juice. When your child is taking this well, slowly start giving other foods.
• If your child is constipated (has trouble pooping): 
  • Offer plenty of liquids (such as water and prune, pear, or apple juice). 
  • Offer high-fiber fruits and vegetables (such as pears, strawberries, and sweet potatoes). 
  • Avoid cheese, bananas, and white rice. They can make constipation worse.

Wound Care

• Your child's surgeon covered the incision (cut) with a bandage. Remove the bandage as directed. Under the bandage are thin adhesive strips. These strips will fall off on their own in 7–10 days. Watch for signs of infection such as redness, swelling, or yellow or green pus.
• Your child can shower the day after surgery. They should not take a bath, swim, or soak in a tub for 1 week after surgery.

Return to School and Activities

• Your child probably can return to school in a few days if feeling well. But some children need up to a week off from school.
• Your child can return to sports and gym class when they have no pain at the surgery site — usually in 1–2 weeks. Talk to the surgeon if you're not sure if an activity is safe for your child.

Your child:

• gets a fever 
• has redness, swelling, or pus near the surgery site
• has severe pain or pain that doesn't go away with pain medicine
• has diarrhea or constipation
• vomits more than two times in the week after surgery
• develops a cough or fast breathing
• is not eating normally within 5–7 days of surgery

Call the care team if you have any questions or concerns.

How does appendicitis happen? Appendicitis is an infection of a small piece of the intestines call the appendix. Sometimes the inner lining of the appendix gets blocked. This lets bacteria (germs) grow rapidly and the appendix gets inflamed and swollen.

Why is it important to remove an infected appendix? Removing an infected appendix prevents it from bursting. If the inflamed appendix bursts (ruptures), it can lead to a serious infection in the belly.