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Acute Appendicitis (Cont.)

Common Symptoms of Acute Appendicitis

Not everyone with acute appendicitis has related symptoms, especially:
 
Pain in the abdomen can be an early symptom of acute appendicitis. The pain may first appear around the belly button and then move to the lower-right area of the abdomen.
 
(Click Early Appendicitis Symptoms for more information.)
 
Other common symptoms of acute appendicitis include:
 
  • Pain that intensifies when moving, taking deep breaths, coughing, or sneezing
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Inability to pass gas
  • Low fever that begins after other symptoms
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Feeling like a bowel movement will relieve discomfort.
     
These possible symptoms of acute appendicitis can be caused by other medical conditions, however. Therefore, people who have these symptoms should see a physician immediately for proper diagnosis and treatment.
 
(Click Appendicitis Symptoms for more information.)
 

Diagnosing Acute Appendicitis

In order to make a diagnosis of acute appendicitis, doctors will likely need to perform a physical exam, ask for a medical history, and order certain tests.
 
Tests that are used to make an acute appendicitis diagnosis can include:
 
  • Laboratory tests
  • Imaging tests (computed tomography scan, ultrasound, x-ray)
  • Surgery.
     
(Click Diagnosing Appendicitis for more information.)
 
(Acute Appendicitis Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD