Appendicitis

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Appendicitis Symptoms & Signs

• Abdominal pain
  • Pain may begin in the upper-middle abdomen (epigastric), then develop to sharp localized pain
  • Pain may shift from the epigastric area to become most intense in the lower right side of the abdomen ("typical" case), tenderness of this area is common
  • Pain initially may be vague, but becomes increasingly more severe
• Point tenderness, especially over the right lower quadrant of the abdomen
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever usually occurs within several hours

Abdominal pain may be worse when walking or coughing. The patient may prefer to lie still; sudden jarring motions or bumping can cause pain.

Later symptoms:

• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Rectal tenderness
• Chills and shaking

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease include bloody urine (microscopic hematuria).