Early Signs Of Appendicitis

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a 4 inch-long tube organ that extends from the large intestine. Appendicitis is a medical emergency that almost always requires an appendix surgery to remove the appendix.

If an inflamed appendix is left untreated, the appendix will eventually burst, or perforate, spilling infectious materials into the abdominal cavity. This can lead to a serious inflammation of the abdominal cavity’s. That can be fatal unless it is treated quickly with strong antibiotics. So appendix surgery is very important in this case.

The early signs of this vary from person to person. Let’s understand them one by one. However, the most common symptom is as follows:

Extreme and sudden abdominal pain is normally the first symptom of appendicitis.

The pain often begins near the belly button. As it worsens, it will usually shift to the lower right side of the abdomen.

There are some other signs too:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Inability to pass gas
• Low-grade fever and chills
• A temperature between 99° and 102° Fahrenheit
• Wanting to have a bowel movement to relieve discomfort
• Stomach swelling

Although, these symptoms appear in only 50 percent of cases. Some patients may experience stomach pain very slightly or not at all. Others may have less common symptoms.

Symptoms in children and infants

Children and infants may not go through pain in one specific area. There may be tenderness throughout the body, or there may be no pain at all. While children and infants may not experience severe pain as older patients do, research suggests that abdominal pain is still the most common symptom of appendicitis for this age group.

Symptoms in older adults and during pregnancy

Older adults and pregnant women may also experience different signs. The stomach pain may be less severe and less specific. Possible symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and fever. During pregnancy, the pain may move upward toward the upper right quadrant after the first trimester.

Abdominal pain can be a symptom of other conditions that seem like appendicitis. These include Constipation, Stomach lesions, Inflammatory bowel diseases, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, Damage or injury to the abdomen, Stool, parasites, or growths that clog the inside of the appendix.

There is no way to prevent appendicitis. However, detecting early signs of the same can help to deal better with it.