The symptoms of appendicitis normally begin with a pain in your abdomen (stomach). The pain normally develops quickly and then gets more severe over the course of several hours.
The location of the pain can vary, particularly in the early stages of the condition, but it tends to 'settle' in the lower right hand side of your abdomen.
Applying pressure to the area will usually make the pain worse, as will coughing and walking.
If you have appendicitis, you may also experience other symptoms including:
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- loss of appetite,
- constipation,
- high temperature, or
- diarrhoea.
When to seek urgent medical advice
A constant pain in your abdomen that is getting progressively worse can be caused by many conditions other than appendicitis, such an infection of your urinary tract. All conditions that cause constant abdominal pain require urgent medical attention.
If you are experiencing abdominal pain that is getting progressively worse, you should contact your GP or local out-of-hours service immediately. If these options are not available, call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
When to seek emergency medical help
If you are experiencing abdominal pain that suddenly gets much worse, spreads across your abdomen, and your temperature rises to, or above 38°C (101.0°F), it is likely that your appendix has burst. Call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
