Appendicitis Symptoms are Easily Recognizable

Answer 1

Appendix is a small tube of tissue attached to the large intestine. Appendicitis occurs when appendix becomes inflamed due to blockage caused by stool, a foreign object, infection or cancer. Below is the list of the common appendicitis symptoms a person may experience.

1. The first and the most common sign of appendicitis is abdominal pain which starts as a dull ache around the belly button. As the inflammation travels to the outer layer of the appendix, the peritoneum, the pain will become sharp and can be clearly felt in the lower right area of the abdomen. The area in the lower right of the abdomen will be tender when pressure is applied. The pain will be worse if the person coughs or walks. If the person feels pain around the whole abdomen, it can be a sign of a ruptured appendix.

2. The second symptom is the loss of appetite.

3. It will be followed by nausea and vomiting shortly after the pain starts.

4. The abdomen will be swollen and feel bloated. The abdominal muscles on the right side will be strained. The person may feel some relief when lying on the right side or on the back.

5. The person will have a fever between 99* F to 102* F as the body responds to inflammation. However, the absence of fever doesn’t rule out appendicitis.

6. He or she will be unable to pass gas.

7. There may other symptoms of appendicitis, such as dull or sharp pain in the whole abdomen area, back and rectum. The person may experience painful urination and severe cramps. Additional symptoms may include diarrhea, gas or constipation.

No medicines should be taken if the pain is severe and the person experiences any of the other symptoms listed above. He or she should seek medical help immediately because if appendix ruptures it will cause an inflammation of the entire abdominal cavity and can be lethal if not treated promptly with strong antibiotics. The doctor will run tests and perform an appendectomy (the removal of the appendix). The purpose of the appendix is unknown and a person can live without one.

Answer 2

Having your appendix removed is a relatively simple surgical procedure. Despite that, appendicitis can still be a dangerous condition since many patients don“t get proper treatment quickly enough. If a patient doesn’t recognize his symptoms as appendicitis, he may put off a trip to the hospital. This pushes an appendectomy back even further, since a doctor needs to observe a patient with apparent appendicitis for a while before performing surgery. Therefore, it’s very important to be familiar with the symptoms of appendicitis so you will recognize an attack if you or someone you love is having one.

The main symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain. People are traditionally told that appendicitis pain is on the right side, and after about five or six hours, that’s probably where the patient will feel the pain. However, when an attack first begins, the pain isn’t as localized and may be felt all over the abdominal area. This generalized pain leads many people to think their pain isn’t related to appendicitis. It’s important to take any abdominal pain seriously and watch it for developments.

The movement of abdominal pain in appendicitis is from generalized pain at first to very specific, localized pain as it progresses. The exact location of the pain may be higher or lower depending on what part of the appendix is affected. If the appendix bursts, the pain goes back to more generalized as the entire abdominal lining becomes inflamed.

Another symptom of appendicitis is nausea and vomiting. There may or may not be diarrhea present as well. Most patients experience fever, but the absence of fever doesn’t necessarily mean an illness isn’t appendicitis. Some patients with appendicitis develop a coating like white fur on the tongue. Appendicitis patients may curl up on their right side, as this may help lessen the pain. Someone suffering from appendicitis will notice that the pain gets much worse if he sneezes, coughs or laughs.

When the appendix is inflamed during appendicitis, someone with the patient may be able to feel a hard, distended place on the right side of the patient’s abdomen. However, if you can’t feel that, don’t assume the illness isn’t appendicitis. It may be hard to feel the right spot for someone who isn’t a doctor.

Answer 3

You may not know much about your appendix other than the fact that it has not been removed from your body. Because it is easily removable you may wonder why you have it in the first place, but that is not important. What is important is knowing the signs and symptoms of appendicitis, because it is something that will affect you quickly and suddenly, with no warning. Left untreated, your appendix could burst and your life could be in danger.

The most telltale symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain that often begins near the bellybutton. The pain is not localized; it moves from the bellybutton down the right side of the body to the lower right side of the stomach. The pain is described by people that have suffered from appendicitis as different from any other pain they have experienced. However, the pain becomes far worse when your move, even if you simply walk or cough. In addition, you may develop a fever and feel nauseous. The pain you will experience from appendicitis may not be severe; it may merely be uncomfortable. However, it will not go unnoticed.

In addition to the most obvious symptoms of appendicitis, you may also experience less common symptoms such as constipation, back pain or a swollen abdomen. You may even throw up a few times. Also, you may not have any of these symptoms and only experience pain on the lower right side of your abdomen. However, if you experience these symptoms together you need to seek medical attention immediately; before your appendix burst.

For children and women that are pregnant, the signs and symptoms of appendicitis are very different because the appendix is not located in the same place as it is on adults and women that are not expectant. Because the appendix is shifted in these people, the pain felt will not be in the stomach but more to the side. It is important to contact your doctor immediately, before the appendix ruptures, which it tends to do after approximately 24 hours of the onset of your symptoms. Of course, on their own, these symptoms could be indicative of a myriad of other illnesses.

Answer 4

Abdominal pain is common and rarely a sign of a serious condition. However, when the pain becomes unbearable and is localized in one area, it could be a symptom of appendicitis. Appendicitis can have severe health consequences. It is important to know the causes and signs of appendicitis in order to seek proper treatment.

The appendix is a pouch that protrudes from the colon on the right side of the abdomen. Appendicitis occurs when this area becomes swollen and filled with bacteria. Because of the body's ability to thrive without the appendix, the most effective cure for the condition is to remove the organ completely.

Appendicitis begins as mild, nagging pain. The pain may be located on the right side of the abdomen, but is most often felt around the naval. Within a day, however, the pain is so severe that any movement causes nearly unbearable pain. By the time symptoms have progressed, it will be obvious that the pain is coming from the lower right quadrant of the abdomen.

Other symptoms of appendicitis include decreased appetite and nausea, a low fever, swelling in the affected area and sharp pain when stomping the right foot. The condition is most common in children and young adults.

If the pain is manageable, an appointment with a doctor should be made as soon as possible. If severe pain is present while sitting or lying still, the condition requires immediate attention. While appendicitis itself is rarely dangerous, the consequences of a ruptured appendix can be deadly.

A blood or urine test may be ordered in order to confirm appendicitis. Alternatively, an ultrasound may be performed to visually check for inflammation. If appendicitis is conclusively diagnosed, the preferred method of treatment is removal. This is generally accomplished via laparoscopic surgery, wherein a camera and special tools are inserted through small incisions. This procedure is far less invasive than a traditional appendectomy, and the healing time is much shorter.

Suspected appendicitis should be dealt with promptly to prevent more serious complications. With proper medical care, the condition is easily remedied and the prognosis for recovery is outstanding.

Answer 5

Appendicitis is a condition characterized by the inflammation of the appendix. The structure will also become filled with pus. Two of the most common causes are obstruction of the opening of the appendix and infection. The standard treatment for appendicitis is the surgical removal of the appendix. If left untreated, the appendix can burst and spread infection throughout the abdominal cavity. This can be fatal.

Appendicitis symptoms usually start with abdominal pain. The pain starts around the navel and moves to the lower right abdomen over a span of several hours. The pain also gets much worse as time goes on. This pain also has several distinct characteristics that distinguish it from the discomfort of other conditions. The area will be tender to touch, and quickly releasing pressure will also cause pain. Coughing or making other jarring movements will also hurt. Even walking will hurt.

Even though there is a common profile for the pain of appendicitis, there are exceptions to the rule of where this pain presents itself. Some people, especially pregnant women and young children, may experience the pain in unusual locations.

As an abdominal problem, appendicitis also causes several symptoms associated with intestinal distress. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite and an inability to pass gas are often present. The abdomen may swell. Fever may also be present thanks to the inflammation and infective bacteria that are present with the condition.

Since a burst appendix can be fatal, it is important to see a doctor right away if you experience symptoms of appendicitis. Any abdominal pain that is so severe that you can't get comfortable needs immediate medical attention. Left untreated, an inflamed appendix will burst.

At your doctor's office or hospital, tests will be run to confirm the diagnosis of appendicitis. A physical exam can often pinpoint the condition. If there is doubt, urine or blood tests can rule out other causes. If appendicitis is confirmed, an appendectomy will be scheduled. In this operation, the appendix will be removed. Appendectomies can be done via traditional methods or laproscopically. Recovery for adults can be fairly quick as long as the appendix has not yet burst.