Appendicitis, which is the inflammation of the appendix, needs to be diagnosed and treated early to prevent complications. For that reason, it’s important to know the difference between appendicitis and having pain from gas in the upper or lower digestive system.
But knowing when abdominal pain is an emergency that needs diagnosis and treatment can be difficult.
This article will explain the symptoms of appendicitis in order to learn how it is different than gas pains.
Appendicitis Symptoms
At the start, appendicitis symptoms might seem like gas pains. One of the main symptoms of appendicitis is abdominal pain. It’s common to have abdominal pain for many reasons. It’s important to get pain, especially when it’s new or severe, checked out by a healthcare provider.
Pain and other symptoms from appendicitis tend to come on suddenly and get worse over the course of several hours to one or two days. The symptoms can be similar to other conditions. Keep track of the pain, where it’s located, and what it feels like and let your healthcare provider know.
Pain from appendicitis:
May feel worse with sneezing, coughing, deep breaths, or being palpated (pressed on)May begin around the belly button and then is felt in the lower right abdomenMay get more intense over a period of hours
The other symptoms of appendicitis may include:
Being unable to pass gas Constipation (hard stools) Diarrhea (loose stools) Distended (swollen) belly Fever Lack of appetite Vomiting
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Abdominal pain is common, so it’s challenging to know when to see a healthcare provider. If you have a condition that causes abdominal pain, ask your healthcare provider when you should seek help for that pain (such as, if it gets worse or if there are other symptoms with it).
Appendicitis, however, is an emergency because an appendix can burst and cause other complications. When belly pain comes on suddenly and gets worse over a period of hours, it’s important to seek care.
This could mean calling a healthcare provider you already have a relationship with to ask about the next steps. It could also mean going to the nearest urgent care to see if a healthcare provider there can offer some direction.
But usually for severe abdominal pain—especially if accompanied by other symptoms such as fever or vomiting—it is going to mean a trip to the emergency department. Appendicitis needs to be at least ruled out because it is a medical emergency.
Diagnosis
To find out if the cause of the pain and/or other symptoms is appendicitis, there will be a need to do some tests.
Abdominal ultrasound: An ultrasound is a test that uses sound waves to create images of the abdomen. Blood tests: A blood test can’t diagnose appendicitis, but high white blood cell counts and/or the C-reactive protein levels could mean that there is an infection. Computed tomography (CT) scan: This is a test that uses X-rays to make a detailed cross-sectional image of the internal organs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI uses magnets to produce detailed images of the organs in the abdomen.
Complications
Untreated appendicitis can result in a burst appendix as soon as 48 to 72 hours after symptoms start. An appendix that bursts can cause an infection in the abdomen. This is called peritonitis, which is a life-threatening infection. The contents of the appendix leak into the abdomen, causing an infection. This is why it’s important to have appendicitis treated right away.
Treatment
The treatment for appendicitis is usually surgery to remove the appendix (an appendectomy). Surgery may be open, with a large incision, or laparoscopic, with several small incisions. This is a common surgery that can be performed by a general surgeon. Most people recover in a few days without any complications.
There is a growing trend to treat uncomplicated appendicitis with antibiotics. However, it has been shown that appendicitis can come back again in children who are given antibiotics instead of surgery. It’s important to weigh the potential risks against the benefits when making a decision about treating appendicitis.
Summary
Appendicitis causes pain around the belly button or in the lower right side of the abdomen. It worsens over time and may be accompanied by fever, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, and a tender, swollen belly. It is important to contact a healthcare provider for symptoms that may be appendicitis, as it is a medical emergency.
A Word From Verywell
Appendicitis is a common condition. However, it’s possible to miss if the signs and symptoms are not really clear or if tests done reveal an obviously inflamed appendix. For that reason, getting abdominal pain looked at as soon as possible is important in avoiding potential complications.
