Abdominal pain is a common symptom that people usually ignore. Considering all the delicious food that summer offers, it is hard to distinguish indigestion from anything serious. However, abdominal pain is a warning sign for many serious conditions, including appendicitis. At Highland Park Emergency Room, we know how important it is to diagnose appendicitis quickly in order to avoid ugly complications, including peritonitis and death.
Appendicitis Warning Signs
Appendicitis happens when your appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus. As a result, the appendix will continue to swell and can rupture, which can be fatal. Knowing the symptoms of this condition can help you seek medical care quickly to avoid any complications.
Abdominal pain
>Abdominal pain can mean a lot of different things. It can be caused by a simple stomach ache, muscle soreness, and any number of things. Typically, the abdominal pain associated with appendicitis is a dull pain near the belly button or upper abdomen. The pain becomes sharper as it moves to the lower right abdomen.
Loss of Appetite
If you have abdominal pain but you still have an appetite, chances are you do not have appendicitis. People suffering from appendicitis lose their appetite. The pain can be so debilitating that a meal is the last thing on your name.
Nausea
The pain from >appendicitis can also cause nausea and/or vomiting. If you do vomit, you might not feel any relief because, unlike a regular stomachache, appendicitis is a lot more serious.
Fever
Along with other symptoms, a fever can occur. If you have other symptoms point to appendicitis and a temperature above 99 degrees, then appendicitis could be the cause of your pain.
Inability to pass gas
Appendicitis pain, from abdominal pain to a fever, can feel ceaseless. An indicator that something is more than just abdominal pain or a sour stomach will be an inability to pass gas. With the inability to pass gas, it’s virtually impossible to feel any kind of relief.
No one symptom is a telltale sign of appendicitis. If you live in the Dallas area, have one or more of these symptoms and think that it might be attributed to appendicitis, stop by or call Highland Park Emergency Room today. Contact us today!
