The appendix is a small appendage located at the beginning of the colon, where it intersects the small intestine. Appendicitis symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea, among others.

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Appendicitis symptoms—including nausea and vomiting—appear if the appendix, the small, tube-like pouch in the abdominal area, becomes inflamed from blockage. The resulting condition is serious enough to require immediate medical attention.

While appendicitis symptoms cause pain in your lower right abdomen, they can also begin around the navel and spread from there. As the inflammation worsens, the pain become more severe and can strike when you cough, walk, or make sudden movements.

The seven most common appendicitis symptoms include:

1. Pain in the abdominal area or naval area
2. Low-grade fever (symptoms may become worse as illness progresses):
3. Feelings of nausea
4. Vomiting
5. Appetite loss
6. Abdominal bloating
7. Constipation or diarrhea

What Causes Appendicitis Symptoms?

The appendix is attached to the first part of your large intestine and just to the lower right side of your abdomen. The appendix has no known function, and for many people it causes no problem throughout life.

• A ruptured appendix. This spreads the infection throughout your abdomen, a condition known as peritonitis. It can be life threatening and requires immediate surgery to remove the appendix and clean your abdominal cavity.
• Abscess. If your appendix bursts, you also may develop a pocket of infection called an abscess. In most cases, a surgeon drains the abscess by placing a tube through your abdominal wall into the abscess. The tube is left in place for two weeks, and antibiotics help clear the infection.

Appendicitis Symptoms: Diagnosis and Treatment

Although anyone can develop appendicitis, most often it occurs in people between the ages of 10 and 30. You should seek medical care if have any appendicitis symptoms. Your doctor may be able to diagnose appendicitis from a physical exam by applying gentle pressure to the painful area. Women may be given a pelvic exam to check for possible gynecological problems.

Other tests that may be performed include:

• Blood test to determine whether you have a high white blood cell count, an indication of an infection.
• Urine test to ensure that your pain isn’t resulting from a kidney stone or urinary tract infection.
• Imaging tests—possibly an abdominal X-ray, an abdominal ultrasound, or a computerized tomography (CT) scan—to determine whether you have appendicitis or to uncover other causes of pain.

An appendectomy to remove the inflamed appendix is the usual treatment. There are two types of the surgery: open and laparoscopic.

For an open appendectomy, the surgeon makes a single abdominal incision of about 2 to 4 inches to remove the appendix. During a laparoscopic appendectomy, the surgeon inserts special surgical tools and a video camera into your abdomen to remove the appendix.

In general, laparoscopic appendectomy allows you to recover faster and heal with less pain and scarring. It may be better for people who are elderly or obese. No matter which option is performed, expect to spend one or two days in the hospital afterwards.

Originally published in June 2016 and updated.