Initial symptoms of chronic appendicitis
Disease description:
My friend has recently been experiencing frequent pain in the lower right abdomen, accompanied by indigestion. He has been worried whether it might be caused by chronic appendicitis. What are the initial symptoms of chronic appendicitis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
The initial symptoms of chronic appendicitis mainly include:
1. Abdominal pain: The most common symptom. Pain typically starts in the upper abdomen or around the navel, later shifting to the right lower quadrant after several hours. It presents as intermittent dull or distending pain, varying in intensity, and remains localized to a relatively fixed area.
2. Gastrointestinal symptoms: Patients may experience indigestion, reduced appetite, and weight loss. However, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distension are generally absent. Constipation may occur in elderly patients.
3. Abdominal tenderness: Tenderness appears in the right lower quadrant. The area of tenderness is small and fixed in location, with obvious pain upon palpation, although muscle guarding and rebound tenderness are typically absent.
4. Systemic symptoms: Some patients may experience fatigue and mild fever during the early stage of the disease. Body temperature may gradually rise to between 38°C and 39°C.
