How to Recognize the Symptoms of Appendicitis

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] Symptoms will usually last 12 to 18 hours, but can last up to a week and become progressively more severe. ^[2] Symptoms include:

• Anorexia
• Stomach problems – such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, especially if combined with frequent vomiting. ^[3]
• 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]

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]

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

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]

Press on the abdomen. If you feel a lot of pain in your abdomen, even to the slightest touch, especially in the lower right abdomen, consider going to the emergency room. You may also feel your lower abdomen soften slightly when pressed. ^[7]

• Pay attention to the backlash. If you press on your right lower abdomen and feel a sharp pain when you quickly remove your hand, you may have appendicitis and need medical help.

Notice any hard parts in the abdomen. Can your fingers sink a little when you press on the abdomen? Or do you feel your stomach is unusually hard? If it’s the latter, you may have bloating, which is another symptom of appendicitis.

• If you have abdominal pain, but no nausea or loss of appetite, you probably don’t have appendicitis. There are many reasons for abdominal pain that don’t require an emergency visit. If abdominal pain persists for more than 3 days, call or see your personal physician.

Try to stand up straight and walk. If you feel a lot of pain while doing this, you may have appendicitis. Along with seeking immediate emergency care, you can relieve local pain by lying on your side and curling up in a fetal position.

• See if your pain gets worse if you have spasms or a violent cough.

Watch out for symptoms in pregnant women and children. In pregnant women, the pain may be in a different location because the appendix is in a higher position during pregnancy. In children under 2 years of age, pain is often in the lower abdomen accompanied by vomiting and abdominal distension. Young children with appendicitis sometimes have trouble eating and seem unusually sleepy. Children may refuse to eat even their favorite snacks.

• For older children, the pain is quite adult-like, starting at the navel and moving to the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. The pain doesn’t go away when the child lies down, but it gets worse if the child moves.
• If the appendix ruptures, you may notice a high fever in your child.