Symptoms of early appendicitis vary and are often confused with other conditions. Most commonly, people experience pain low in their abdomen. This pain typically starts near the belly button, then moves to the lower-right area. In addition, it is common to experience nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
This article explains early appendicitis symptoms, how healthcare providers diagnose it, and how it’s treated.
Early Signs of Appendicitis
Since the appendix can rupture without prompt treatment, it’s crucial to recognize appendicitis symptoms early. These early signs often include appendix pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and fever.
It’s not always clear what causes appendicitis. Healthcare providers think it may be caused by a blockage in the appendix from hardened stool, growths, infection, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Severe and Sudden Pain
The most common early appendicitis symptom is severe and sudden pain in the abdomen. Abdominal pain caused by appendicitis is sometimes mistaken for other abdominal problems, like gas. However, appendicitis pain has several unique traits, including:
Pain starts at the belly button and then moves to the lower right (migratory pain). Pain comes on suddenly. It may be intense enough to wake you from sleep. It worsens when you move, take deep breaths, cough, or sneeze. It feels unlike other pain you’ve experienced. It usually happens before other symptoms. It worsens quickly.
Nausea and Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are also early appendicitis signs. If your stomach upset is accompanied by severe abdominal pain, you could have appendicitis.
Stomach Bloating
Bloating is another early appendicitis symptom. Bloating is when the abdomen distends or expands, making your stomach look larger. A feeling of fullness or discomfort often accompanies it.
Bloating is common during menstruation or episodes of gas, so people often dismiss this symptom. However, if bloating is accompanied by other symptoms, especially severe abdominal pain, you may have appendicitis.
Constipation or Diarrhea
Constipation and diarrhea are both appendicitis symptoms. Unfortunately, they also accompany many other illnesses and infections, making it difficult to know if these symptoms arise from appendicitis or something else.
If constipation or diarrhea are accompanied by other symptoms, especially abdominal pain, you should contact a healthcare provider.
Low Fever
An early appendicitis symptom is a low fever, but a higher fever may indicate your appendix has burst.
Since a ruptured appendix is a medical emergency, don’t wait until your fever is high to seek medical care.
A low fever is between 99 and 100. 3 degrees Fahrenheit. A high fever is over 100. 4.
Loss of Appetite
Losing your appetite is another symptom of early appendicitis. Sometimes appetite loss comes before other abdominal symptoms like nausea and vomiting.
Difficulty Passing Gas
If you have appendicitis, you may have trouble passing gas or feel like having a bowel movement would relieve your pain. However, using the bathroom does not ease appendicitis pain.
How Is Appendicitis Diagnosed?
A healthcare provider will take your medical history, including your symptoms, do a physical exam, and run some tests to diagnose appendicitis. Standard tests and exams for appendicitis diagnosis include:
Abdominal palpation (pressing on the abdomen) Movement tests to determine the location of the pain Rectal exam Pelvic exam Complete blood count (CBC) test C-reactive protein (CRP) blood test Urinalysis Pregnancy test Abdominal ultrasound Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Computed tomography (CT scan)
Tests may confirm appendicitis or determine that something else is causing your pain, like intestinal obstruction or kidney stones.
How Is Appendicitis Treated?
Surgeons treat appendicitis by surgically removing the appendix in a procedure called an appendectomy. During an appendectomy, a surgeon removes your appendix while you are under general anesthesia, which means you are asleep during the procedure.
An appendectomy may be open, in which a surgeon makes an incision in the lower-right abdomen in order to remove the appendix, or laparoscopic, a procedure in which a surgeon cuts smaller incisions and works with the help of cameras. Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive and usually results in fewer complications.
Some mild cases of appendicitis may resolve with antibiotics instead of an appendectomy. A study comparing antibiotics and appendectomies found that antibiotic use helped prevent the need for surgery and offered better recovery outcomes.
In the trial, half of the participants received antibiotics, and half underwent appendectomies. The study found that while 29% of people in the antibiotic group required an appendectomy, most avoided surgery, were treated on an outpatient basis, and missed less work than those in the appendectomy group.
However, it’s important to remember that antibiotics would likely only be used in mild cases of appendicitis.
Summary
The most prominent early sign of appendicitis is abdominal pain that begins at the belly button, then migrates to the lower-right side. In addition, you may experience nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, fever, loss of appetite, and trouble passing gas. Seeking care early may help you catch the problem before your appendix bursts.
A Word From Verywell
Appendicitis symptoms mimic lots of other illnesses and infections. Fortunately, an appendectomy is a common procedure that saves lives. If you’re feeling this kind of pain in your lower-right abdomen, it’s important to reach out to your healthcare provider.
