SOUTHAMPTON surgeons are leading a study which could prevent children with acute appendicitis from needing an operation.

The children's hospital is leading a study to examine whether antibiotics, shown to be as effective as operating on adults, could also be used for youngsters.

The condition, which causes the appendix - a small organ attached to the large intestine - to become inflamed due to a blockage or infection, affects mainly children and teenagers.

Appendicitis is currently treated through an operation to remove the appendix, known as an appendicectomy, and it is the most common cause of emergency surgery in children.

Nigel Hall, a consultant paediatric surgeon at Southampton Children's Hospital, said: "Parents whose children have acute appendicitis commonly ask if an operation, which carries all the associated risks, can be avoided but, currently, the answer is no as it is the gold standard treatment.

"Recently, however, it has become clear in adults that antibiotics may be as good as an operation for acute appendicitis and we are now very keen to find out if this is also the case for children."

Before the study is rolled out at multiple sites, Mr Hall and his team in Southampton, along with colleagues at St George's Hospital in Tooting, south London, Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, and London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, will carry out a year-long feasibility trial which will see children with appendicitis randomly allocated to have either surgery or antibiotic treatment.

The study - known as CONservative TReatment of Appendicitis in Children a randomised controlled Trial (Contract) - is being funded through a £483,000 grant from the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme and co-ordinated by the University of Southampton's clinical trials unit in collaboration with the University of Bristol, the University of Liverpool and University College London.