Early Symptoms of Appendicitis
Disease description:
My father experienced some abdominal pain recently. After a hospital examination, the doctor diagnosed him with appendicitis, but it's not very severe yet. I would like to know what are the general symptoms of appendicitis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
The early symptoms of appendicitis vary greatly and mainly include the following aspects:
1. Abdominal pain: The initial symptom of appendicitis is usually abdominal pain, which may initially be located around the navel or upper abdomen, then gradually shifts to the lower right abdomen, forming a fixed tender point known as McBurney's point. The pain may continuously intensify, becoming particularly noticeable during physical activity or coughing.
2. Gastrointestinal symptoms: Patients may experience symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are generally mild but may worsen as the condition progresses. Additionally, some patients may present with indigestion, bloating, constipation, or diarrhea.
3. Nausea and vomiting: Along with abdominal pain, patients may experience nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are typically the body's response to gastrointestinal discomfort. However, nausea and vomiting are not specific to appendicitis and may also occur in other gastrointestinal diseases.
4. Systemic symptoms: Due to the inflammation, patients may experience general malaise, such as fever and fatigue. Fever usually does not exceed 38.5°C but may increase as the condition worsens.
Therefore, if the above symptoms appear, prompt medical attention is advised.
