Signs and Symptoms of Appendicitis

The appendix is a narrow pouch, shaped like a finger, which is attached to the colon, on the right side of the abdomen. Although the appendix does not seem to serve any purpose, however, it can sometimes cause problems. When there is blockage in the appendix it becomes pus filled and inflamed, which leads to a condition called appendicitis. If there is a continuation of the blockage, bacteria infects the affected tissue, and it starts dying due to a deficiency of blood supply, finally resulting in the appendix rupturing.

What are the symptoms of appendicitis?

There are various symptoms, which can change in due course of time: At the very early stages, one of main signs is a vague ache that occurs around the navel, which generally moves to the lower part of the abdomen, on the right side. The pain can become more acute and sharper as the nearby tissues get affected by the inflammation. Ultimately, the pain settles in the lower right side of the abdomen, at an area referred to as the McBurney's point, which is about one third of the distance from the right pelvic bone to the navel. However, the location of the pain can differ, according to the position of the appendix and age. For example, pregnant women and children may feel the pain at different locations.

What makes the symptoms of appendicitis worse?

If gentle pressure is applied on the area where it hurts, it can feel tender. And as the pressure is released, especially if it is done suddenly, the pain will feel much worse, which is known as rebound tenderness. Pain and discomfort also has a tendency of getting worse if the person affected walks, coughs, or makes any other jolting movements. This is especially the case in case the infected appendix is in contact with the peritoneum, which is a transparent membrane that forms a lining in the abdominal cavity and covers the intestines. It can diminish a little if the person lies down on his/her side and pulls the knees up to the chest.

The other symptoms apart from pain

There can also be one or more of the following signs of appendicitis, apart from the pain:

• Nausea, accompanied by vomiting sometimes
• Losing ones appetite
• A fever, of low temperature, that begins after the other symptoms occur
• Diarrhea or Constipation
• Swelling of the abdominal region
• Impairment in the ability to pass gas

When should medical advice be sought?

In case there are symptoms of pain in the abdomen, especially in the lower right side or the middle-lower region, accompanied by vomiting and/or fever, a doctor needs to be consulted. And if the symptoms extend for over four hours, then medical evaluation will need to be carried out urgently. Children, for instance, do not have the typical signs of appendicitis always; hence parents may not get medical treatment for them in time. Children, therefore, have a higher tendency of rupturing their appendix compared to adults. Hence, if children complain of abdominal pain, it is advisable not to take it lightly. A doctor should be consulted, just to make sure, even if it is suspected that the stomachache is not serious.

There are incidences of ruptured appendix even in adults, perhaps because they tend to take the abdominal pain lightly at first, and thus delay consulting a doctor.

Precautions to be taken

If you experience the signs of appendicitis, you need to contact the emergency department of a hospital or get in touch with your doctor immediately. And in the meantime, it is advisable not to drink or eat anything, because it may delay or complicate the surgery. If you feel thirsty, just gargle your mouth with water. It is also advisable not to take any pain medications, laxatives, or antibiotics, as this may delay the diagnosis, which can result in rupturing the appendix, or mask the appendicitis symptoms, which could result in making the diagnosis much harder.

This condition occurs fairly commonly with about 6 percent of the population being affected by it. Although anybody can get appendicitis, it usually occurs between the ages of 10 and 30 years. Recognizing the symptoms can lead to timely treatment and thus prevent the complications that can arise from it, especially amongst the very young and old. Surgically removing the appendix is the usual treatment.