Appendicitis: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms

October 28, 2025

2 min read

Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical abdominal disease. Its mortality rate is low — only 0.3 % — and its main cause is a late diagnosis of inflammation, which is why it is so important to know the symptoms of appendicitis inflammation.

Key takeaways

Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical abdominal disease.
Where does my appendix hurt?
What other symptoms should be alarming?

Who this is for

People exploring Gastrointestinal tract through appendicitis, inflammation.

Why it matters

This piece helps you get oriented quickly, then move into a collection or series if you want to keep going.

Article author

Dr. Anna

Surgeon

Where does my appendix hurt?

The appendix is an outgrowth of the cecum, and appendicitis is an inflammation of this appendix. Most often, the symptoms of appendicitis appear at night or in the morning. It is a pulling pain in the upper abdomen. Gradually, the pain moves to the right lower part of the abdomen and becomes throbbing.

Because of the location of the appendix itself, the pain can also be felt in other places such as the lower back, legs, or pelvic area. The pain is rarely so severe that it cannot be tolerated, which is what often leads to a late visit to the doctor.

What other symptoms should be alarming?

Nausea and one-time vomiting in the first few hours of illness
A swollen tongue and dry mouth
Slight fever of 99.52 °F or higher
Lack of appetite
The right side of the abdomen "lags" when breathing
A pressing feeling on the abdomen between the umbilicus and iliac bone, with the pain increasing when the palm is released
Pain increases with coughing and moving
The patient tries to do the "fetal position," but the pain decreases

Difficulties usually arise in making a diagnosis in women when gynecological problems or colitis are disguised as appendicitis. Also, children and elderly patients deserve special attention. Children often have difficulty explaining the symptoms and source of pain, while appendicitis in the elderly can be a complicated health picture.

What should you do before seeing a doctor?

At the slightest suspicion of appendicitis, you should call an ambulance. Avoid drinking, eating, or using painkillers until you see a doctor. Avoid using heat on the area as it can cause further inflammation. Movement should be restricted because it can lead to a rupture of the appendix.

How is the diagnosis made?

To make a diagnosis, laboratory and instrumental methods of research are used including urine tests, blood tests, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, and laparoscopy.

How is appendicitis treated?

When the diagnosis of "acute appendicitis" is made, the main method of treatment is emergency surgery. Fortunately, today it is most often done by a gentle laparoscopic method that does not require a large incision.

Is it possible to ignore it?

If the appendix is inflamed, then hoping that "it will pass by itself" is not only pointless but also extremely dangerous. If the diagnosis is not made in time, the appendix can burst, and its contents spill into the abdominal cavity, leading to inflammation called peritonitis. In this case, a complex and time-consuming operation is necessary.

Can appendicitis be prevented?

There is no specific prevention for appendicitis. There are many theories about the development of appendicitis, but none of them are recognized as reliable. It is known only that the disease usually occurs in childhood and young age and more often in women than in men. However, it can happen to anyone — which is why it is important to recognize symptoms and seek help in time.

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