How to Recognize the Symptoms of Appendicitis

If you feel a tingling pain in your lower abdomen, you most likely have appendicitis. The condition is most common in people between the ages of 10 and 30, and for children under 10 and women over 50, identifying common symptoms can take longer. If you’ve been diagnosed with appendicitis, you’ll probably need surgery to remove the appendix, which is a small, enlarged pouch of the small intestine. Appendectomy is considered a medical emergency, so it’s important to know the signs and get help as soon as possible.

Table of Contents

Emergency Symptoms

Contact your doctor or go to the emergency room right away if you have any of the following symptoms:

Fever over 38°C
Back-ache
Anorexia
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea or constipation
Painful urination
Pain in the rectum, back or lower abdomen

Self-check for Symptoms

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Watch for common symptoms of appendicitis. The most common symptom is a dull ache near the navel that radiates to the lower right abdomen. There are also some other uncommon symptoms. If you notice some of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor or go to the hospital. You need to contact your doctor or go to the hospital as soon as you identify these symptoms. Delay can increase the risk of appendix rupture and be life-threatening. ^{[1] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source} Symptoms will usually last 12 to 18 hours, but can last up to a week and become progressively more severe. ^{[2] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source} Symptoms include:

Anorexia
Stomach problems – such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, especially if combined with frequent vomiting. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Fever – If the body temperature is at or above 40°C, you must go to the hospital immediately. If the temperature is 38°C but you are experiencing some other symptoms, go to the hospital as soon as possible. A low-grade fever of about 37.5°C is also a symptom worth noting.
Chills and shivers.
Back-ache.
Unable to mediate.
Straining – feeling a bowel movement relieves discomfort

Many of these symptoms are similar to those of viral gastroenteritis. The difference is that pain is very general and non-specific. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Pay attention to the less common symptoms of appendicitis. In addition to the above symptoms, you may also experience other less common symptoms associated with appendicitis. Here are some less common symptoms you may notice: ^{[5] X Research Source}

Cold urine
Vomiting before the stomach ache starts
Sharp or dull pain in the rectum, back, epigastrium or lower abdomen

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Pay attention to abdominal pain. In the vast majority of adults, the appendix is located in the lower right abdomen, usually one-third of the line between the navel and the hipbone. Note that this position may not be the same for pregnant women. Consider the “line” of pain. The sharp pain may travel from the navel to the area just above the appendix for 12-24 hours after you start to have symptoms. If you’ve noticed such a dramatic change, go straight to the emergency room.

In adults, appendicitis symptoms can become more severe within 4-48 hours. If you’re diagnosed with appendicitis, you’ll be given a medical emergency. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Seeking Medical Care

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Avoid using any medicine until you are treated. If you feel you have symptoms of appendicitis, it’s important that you don’t make the situation worse while you wait to be treated in the emergency room. Here are the things you should avoid while waiting for treatment:

Do not use laxatives or pain relievers. Laxatives can irritate your bowels, while pain relievers can make it difficult to manage complications during an upset stomach. ^{[8] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}
Do not take antacids. They can make the pain of appendicitis worse. ^{[9] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source}
Absolutely do not use thermal paste because the patch can cause the appendix to become hot and fragile. ^{[10] X Research Source}
Do not eat or drink anything until you have been examined by your doctor because food can put you at risk of breathing difficulties during surgery. ^{[11] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

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Hurry to the emergency room. If you have enough reason to believe you have appendicitis, don’t just call and make an appointment with your doctor next week. Get to the hospital as soon as possible. Appendicitis is a potentially life-threatening disease.

Bring some personal items like a clean set of pajamas and a toothbrush. If you have appendicitis, you will have surgery and stay overnight.

READ More: How to Take Care of Yourself

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Describe your symptoms in the emergency room. You will be graded based on the extent of your illness, so tell the specialist nurse that you suspect appendicitis. You will then be sorted into a list of patients, based on the urgency of each patient. That means if a patient with a head injury comes to the emergency room, you may have to wait a bit.

Don’t panic if you have to wait. Once you’re in the hospital, you’ll be much safer than at home. Even if your appendix ruptures while you’re in the waiting room, the doctors can do the surgery for you quickly. Try to be patient and temporarily forget the pain.

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Know what to do during the exam. When your doctor examines you, you will need to describe your symptoms again. Watch for digestive abnormalities (such as constipation or vomiting), and try to tell your doctor when you first had pain. Your doctor will check for signs of appendicitis.

Mentally prepare for being sealed. The doctor will press firmly on your lower abdomen. Your doctor is checking to see if you have peritonitis, or an infection – the result of a ruptured appendix. If you have peritonitis, your abdominal muscles will spasm when pressed. Doctors may also perform a quick rectal exam.

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You may also have to do additional tests. Lab tests and imaging tests are important for the official diagnosis of appendicitis. Types of tests may include: ^{[12] XTrusted Source National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Go to source}

Blood test – A blood test will identify a high white blood cell count, which shows signs of infection even before a drop in body temperature is noted. Blood tests will also show an imbalance of electrolytes and dehydration, which is also a cause of pain. Doctors can also do a pregnancy test to rule out pregnancy.
Urinalysis – Urine can detect urinary tract infections or kidney stones – two conditions that can also sometimes cause abdominal pain.
Ultrasound – An ultrasound of the abdomen will show if the appendix is blocked, ruptured, swollen, or has another cause of abdominal pain. Ultrasound is the safest type of radiation and is often the first choice in diagnostic imaging.
MRI – MRI (Magnetic Resonance) is used to give more detailed pictures of internal organs without using X-rays. You may feel a bit claustrophobic while running the CHT. It’s a tight space. Many doctors may use a bit of a sedative to help ease your anxiety. The CT scan will show the same signs as the ultrasound, but the image is closer.
CT scan – A CT scan uses X-rays with computer technology to display images. You will have to drink a suspension. If you do not vomit the suspension, you can lie on the table to check. The CT scan process is quite fast and not as stuffy as with the MRI machine. This process will also show signs such as inflammation, rupture, or obstruction of the appendix. This is the most commonly used method.

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Cut the appendix. Your doctor may conclude that you have appendicitis. The only cure for appendicitis is to remove the appendix through an operation called an appendectomy. Most surgeons favor laparoscopic surgery because of the minimal scarring, unlike laparotomy.

If your doctor thinks you don’t need surgery, you may be sent home for observation for 12-24 hours. During that time, you should not take antibiotics, pain relievers, or laxatives. In this case, you should contact your treating doctor if the pain worsens. Don’t wait until your symptoms become too severe. You can bring a urine sample. When you come back for other tests, you need to make sure you haven’t eaten or drank anything before as this could complicate the surgery.

Advice

People with a particular condition may not experience the typical symptoms of appendicitis and only have a general feeling of being sick or unwell. Special conditions include:
- Fat
- Diabetes
- HIV patient
- Patients with cancer and/or chemotherapy
- Organ transplant patient
- Pregnant women (risk is highest in the third trimester)
- Babies and young children
- Old person
There is also a condition called appendicitis. Severe abdominal cramping caused by contractions in the appendix. This can be caused by a blockage, tumor, scar or other external problem. In the past, doctors did not accept that appendicitis could be “persistent”. However, the pain can last for a long time and can come and go. This condition can be difficult to diagnose, but it can lead to acute appendicitis. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Warning

Delaying medical treatment for appendicitis can cause you to wear a colostomy bag for several months or a lifetime.
Never delay getting medical care if you suspect appendicitis . A ruptured appendix can be fatal. If you go to the emergency room and are sent home without treatment, you must return to be checked if your symptoms worsen. It’s not unusual for symptoms to get more complicated over time until you need surgery.

Emergency Symptoms

Steps

Self-check for Symptoms

Seeking Medical Care

Advice

Warning

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