Appendicitis can be a challenging condition to diagnose correctly. There are many other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), and gastroenteritis (an infection of the stomach.)
Also, almost half of people with appendicitis do not have the typical symptoms, and some people have their appendix located in different parts of their body. For example, some people can have their appendix located in their pelvis, behind their colon, or behind their liver.
Your GP will ask about your symptoms, examine your abdomen, and see if the pain gets worse when pressure is applied to the location of your appendix.
If your symptoms are typical of appendicitis, it is normally enough for your GP to confidently diagnose the condition. However, if you symptoms are not typical, further tests may be required to try to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions. Further tests that you may have are:
- blood tests - which can help indicate the presence of infection,
- urine tests - to help rule out conditions such as a bladder or kidney infections,
- an MRI scan - which uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to build up a picture of the inside of your body,
- a CT scan - which uses a series of X-ray images to build up a '3-D' image of the inside of your body.
The latest generation of MRI and CT scanners have proven very reliable in detecting appendicitis. However, access to this advanced technology may be limited in your local area and you may have to wait several days to obtain a scan.
It may be felt that waiting for a scan to confirm the diagnosis is too dangerous and that there is a risk that your appendix might burst in the intervening time. If this is the case, your doctor may decide to remove your appendix as a precautionary measure.
