Tag Archives: appendicitis

Warning Signs of Appendicitis

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Appendicitis, or inflammation of the appendix, can quickly lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated. Inflammation causes the appendix to swell, which can then cause it to burst. When this happens, bacteria spreads throughout your bowels and abdominal cavity, causing infection and eventual sepsis, which can be fatal.

Appendicitis typically causes abdominal pain, nausea, and a loss of appetite. It can be difficult to get the prompt diagnosis and treatment necessary for appendicitis because its symptoms are similar to other, less serious conditions, such as gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, or inflammatory bowel disease. It can also be particularly challenging for people assigned female at birth due to the similarity between appendicitis pain and menstrual cramps.

In order to identify appendicitis quickly and get the treatment you need to avoid serious complications, it may help to look for one or more of these warning signs:

McBurney’s Sign: A sign that many healthcare providers look for to diagnose appendicitis is tenderness at McBurney’s point, which is located in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. You can locate this point by drawing a straight line from the right anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), a projection of bone from your right hip, to your belly button. McBurney’s point is usually located about two inches along the line from the ASIS.

Blumberg’s sign: When your pain becomes worse after pressure is applied and released from the sore area, it could be an indicator of appendicitis. This is known as Blumberg’s sign.

Dunphy’s sign: This indicator refers to coughing that makes your pain worse.

Rovsing’s sign: If placing pressure on your lower left side causes pain on your lower right sign, it is referred to as Rovsing’s sign, which could be a warning sign of appendicitis.

Psoas or obturator sign: This indicator refers to the psoas muscle, which can become irritated by appendicitis if your appendix is located behind your colon rather than in front. If extending your right hip or rotating it outward causes pain, it is referred to as the psoas sign. However, if it hurts to rotate the right hip inward instead, it is the obturator sign, referring to irritation of the obturator internus muscle.

Appendicitis can cause your appendix to burst in as little as two days. If you experience sudden, severe abdominal pain that lasts for several hours, whether or not you notice other warning signs, please dial 911 or visit the nearest emergency room immediately.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Appendicitis

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Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix; a small organ attached to the large intestine.   Anyone can develop appendicitis but it most commonly occurs in people between the ages of 10 and 30.

There are early signs that warn of an inflammation of the appendix. Warning signs include pain by the belly button or upper abdomen that becomes sharper as it moves toward the lower-right side of the abdomen and a mild fever.  Additional signs and symptoms that may present are:

  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Abdominal bloating

If you are experiencing symptoms it is recommended that you see your doctor immediately, because if left untreated complications can develop.  The appendix can become swollen and filled with pus.  This can result in peritonitis, a condition that occurs when the appendix ruptures and allows infectious materials to spread throughout the abdomen.  Peritonitis can lead to death.

In order to diagnose appendicitis, your doctor will take a history of your symptoms and run a series of tests and examinations to rule out other possible causes. If it is determined that you have appendicitis, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics and will most likely recommend an appendectomy (surgery to remove the inflamed appendix).

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.