What are the classic symptoms of appendicitis?
The symptoms of appendicitis usually include: • pain in the right side of the abdomen • nausea • vomiting • constipation • diarrhea • inability to pass gas • low fever that begins after other symptoms • abdominal swelling • anorexia (loss of appetite) Although people often think of the pain being in the lower right side of the abdomen when a child has appendicitis, it is important to realize that the pain usually starts in the middle of the abdomen, near the belly button (periumbilical). The pain then quickly worsens and moves to the lower right side (McBurney’s point). And there are many illnesses that cause abdominal pain and vomiting, like a simple stomach virus, but unlike these other conditions, with appendicitis, the child usually has pain first and then begins vomiting afterwards. Keep in mind that younger children with appendicitis may not have classic symptoms, which leads to a higher rate of misdiagnosis in that age group. These children might have other complaints, like hip
