Appendicitis: symptoms, causes and which doctor to see

For appendicitis you can first see: General Surgery. If you are not sure, a family doctor (general practitioner) can assess you first and refer you to the right specialist.

Common symptoms: pain that starts around the navel and moves to the lower right abdomen; pain that gets worse when walking and coughing; loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting; mild fever; pain when pressing on the lower right abdomen. Symptoms vary from person to person; a doctor’s examination is needed for a diagnosis.

The most common causes: blockage of the opening of the appendix by a piece of stool or lymph tissue; infections. Only a doctor’s examination can determine the exact cause.

Appendicitis is usually treated with surgery, mostly keyhole surgery; patients are often discharged within 1–2 days.

Typical pain starts around the navel, moves to the lower right abdomen, gets worse with movement and becomes more severe over hours, with nausea and loss of appetite. A definite diagnosis is made with an examination, blood tests and imaging.

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, call 112 without delay: “Is the abdomen rigid like a board, with severe pain spreading across the whole abdomen?” “Is there a high fever, shivering and a fast pulse?” “Is there confusion, fainting or difficulty waking up?” “Is there facial drooping, slurred speech or sudden weakness in an arm or leg?” “Are you struggling to breathe even at rest?”

See a doctor: lower right abdominal pain that keeps getting worse — go to the emergency department the same day; in children, loss of appetite, vomiting and abdominal pain together; in older people and pregnant women symptoms can be subtle; seek care early.