Appendicitis Detection: How is it Diagnosed?

How to Diagnose Appendicitis: A Step-by-Step Guide

One of the most common conditions related to the appendix is appendicitis. It causes the appendix to become inflamed and, in the worst-case scenario, burst. Knowing appendix symptoms will help you understand the diagnosis and treatments.

In this blog, we will explore what appendicitis is and how it is diagnosed.

Understanding Appendicitis

Your large intestine is joined to a thin tube called the appendix. This small organ helps fight off diseases, making it a part of your body's immune system. However, when this small organ gets swollen, diseased or sore, it can cause appendicitis.

If it is not treated at the right time, it can cause serious infections and can even burst. When your appendix bursts, it is a medical emergency.

Types of Appendicitis

There are mainly two types of appendicitis. They are:

Acute Appendicitis : Usually, most of the appendicitis cases are acute. It is a common condition which happens suddenly and can worsen quickly. If you experience appendix pain in the abdomen, you should immediately see a doctor.
Chronic Appendicitis : In rare cases, the appendicitis does not occur suddenly and quickly. Instead, you may sometimes face abdominal pain or remain asymptomatic. However, healthcare professionals treat both with equal severity. This is because chronic appendicitis may transform into acute appendicitis without any prior warning.

What are the Appendix Symptoms?

To understand how appendicitis is diagnosed, you must know appendix symptoms. Knowing what to look out for is essential in detecting the condition. Let us discuss them below:

Pain in Your Abdomen : One of the most common indicators of this condition is abdominal pain. You may experience the pain right where your belly button is located. After some time, it may shift towards the right side of your abdomen. This is where the appendix is located.
Nausea and Vomiting : When your pain intensifies, you are likely to develop nausea and vomiting. This phase often leads to a loss of appetite.
Swollen Belly : This appendix symptom only occurs if your appendicitis has advanced and ruptured. You might feel bloated and distended.
Fever : When your immune system kicks into protective mode, you may develop a fever. Approximately 60% of people experience fever as a symptom.
Anorexia : Anorexia (loss of appetite) is the most consistent symptom" (present in 95% of cases).

Other appendix symptoms include:

Diarhheoa
Malaise
Bowel paralysis
Urinary symptoms

Different Ways to Detect Appendicitis

Now that you understand what to look out for, let us look at how the condition can be diagnosed.

Appendicitis Tests

These are clinical examination maneuvers performed by doctors:

Psoas Sign: Many people’s appendix is located behind their colon. Pain in your psoas muscle may cause you to clench your right hip. You can take this as a sign of the condition.
McBurney’s Sign: Draw a line from the bone in your hip towards the belly button. If, by doing so, you experience pain, you should visit your doctor.
Rovsing’s Sign: Put pressure on the lower left side of your abdomen. Check whether you face any pain on your right side.
Blumberg’s Sign: Also known as the rebound tenderness, the soreness becomes unbearable after releasing pressure.

Imaging Tests for Appendicitis

Upon facing appendicitis symptoms, you should visit your doctor at once. Your healthcare professional will conduct some imaging tests to determine whether you have the condition.

MRI: By utilising a large magnet and radio waves, this machine can detect appendicitis. Doctors often prefer this over a CT scan for pregnant women.
CT Scan: This scan can produce detailed images of any organ, including the appendix.
Ultrasound: This test shows how blood flows through blood vessels.

How do Doctors Treat Appendicitis?

Since the condition is a medical emergency, experts opt for surgery that removes the organ altogether. Doctors often use medicines to treat them as well.

Laparoscopy : Doctors often use this method as part of acute appendicitis treatment. In this surgery, the doctors make small incisions after giving you anaesthesia. After that, doctors place a laparoscope or a camera inside your belly. Even if you have a burst appendix, doctors can perform a laparoscopy.
Open Surgery Method : Apart from a laparoscopy, doctors commonly use the traditional open surgery method. Surgeons make a small cut on the right side of your belly after administering anaesthesia. From there, they take out the appendix. If you have a burst appendix, they are put in a drain. This drain helps to filter out any pus and fluids in your belly.
Appendicitis Medications : Antibiotics are a common medicine given to patients suffering from appendicitis. These may be administered before or after your surgery. Developing an infection is inevitable when affected by this condition. Therefore, antibiotics help curb these and provide relief.

Recovery Time for Appendicitis

Different people recover differently based on the surgery type and their condition. If you underwent laparoscopic surgery, you may be discharged on the same day. However, you need to consume pain relief drugs.

On the contrary, open surgery requires you to stay in the hospital for a week. Most people recover fully within 6 weeks.

Final Thoughts

Knowing appendix symptoms gives you a better idea of how to treat appendicitis. The condition can become worse very quickly. Therefore, always look out for the signs and symptoms and take prompt action if you notice them.