Any person with point tenderness should call or present to an emergency room in order to be examined promptly by the health care provider!

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam, which includes gently pushing on areas of your abdomen. Persons with peritonitis will often tense the abdominal muscles when the area is touched by the doctor. This is called "guarding."

The doctor will note any point tenderness. This is a general term which means you have tenderness in a particular area.

For example, if you have appendicitis, you will likely have point tenderness when a specific part of your belly area is touched. This area is called McBurney's point.

The health care provider will also ask questions about your symptoms and medical history:

• When did the symptoms develop?
• Is this the first time you have had such discomfort?
• If not, when does the discomfort tend to occur?
• What other symptoms do you have? For example, do you have:
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Fainting
  • Fever
  • Vomiting

The following tests may be done:

• Abdominal x-ray
• Abdominal CT scan (occasionally)
• Blood work, such as a complete blood count

In some cases, immediate surgery will be needed. This may involve an exploratory laparotomy or an emergency appendectomy.