Common symptoms of appendicitis
Disease description:
The right side of my abdomen hurts at night, and the pain extends to the right side of my waist. Pressing on the area makes the pain worse. My abdomen has hurt occasionally before, but I didn't pay much attention to it. I'm worried it might be appendicitis. Doctor, what are the common symptoms of appendicitis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Lei
As a common surgical acute abdomen condition, appendicitis mainly presents with the following common symptoms:
1. Referred right lower quadrant abdominal pain: Initially, the patient may experience discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen or periumbilical area, which subsequently shifts and localizes to the right lower quadrant. This is the most characteristic presentation of appendicitis.
2. Nausea and vomiting: About half of the patients may experience nausea or vomiting, although these symptoms typically occur after the onset of abdominal pain rather than being early manifestations.
3. Fever: Mild to moderate fever is common, with body temperature generally not exceeding 38°C. High fever suggests possible complications such as appendiceal perforation or peritonitis.
4. Loss of appetite: Most patients experience varying degrees of anorexia or a feeling of indigestion.
5. Constipation or diarrhea: Some patients may have mild changes in bowel habits, which are related to gastrointestinal dysfunction.
6. Systemic symptoms: In the early stages, patients may only exhibit mild symptoms such as fatigue and low-grade fever. However, as the condition progresses, if the appendix becomes suppurative, gangrenous, or perforates, patients may develop systemic toxic symptoms such as chills and high fever, and even progress to septic shock.
When the aforementioned symptoms appear, especially right lower quadrant abdominal pain, prompt medical attention should be sought to avoid delayed treatment.
