The physical examination of the patient and its history help you put a correct diagnosis. Diagnostic methods to confirm diagnosis are necessary for example a very usefull one is counting white blood cells which becomes elevated in infections. In mild appendicitis white blood cells are normal, or mild elevated.



Elevated temperature and moderate and severe tenderness in the right lower abdomen when the doctor pushes there, sometimes there is rebound tenderness which means that when the doctor pushes on the abdomen and quickly releases his hand the pain comes suddenly worse.

By analyzing only the number of white blood cells we cannot be sure it is acute appendicitis, because in many conditions and infections, inflammations raise the number of white blood cells.

Urinalysis for detecting the red blood cells, white blood cells and bacteria in the urine is also useful for detecting inflammation or stones in the kidneys or bladder. But those conditions are easy to confuse with acute appendicitis. So if we have all the rest of the symptoms and normal urinalysis then for sure we have acute appendicitis.

Abdominal X-Ray in children may detect the fecalith that blocks the opening of the appendix. Ultrasound procedure is painless and may detect an enlarged appendix and abscessed appendix. Barium enema test shows an impression on the colon in the area close to the inflammation with the help of barium into the colon from the anus to the colon. CT scan puts a clear diagnosis of appendicitis and peri-appendiceal abscesses.

Laparoscopy is used to view directly the appendix and all the other abdominal organs, with the help of the small camera and fiberoptic tube the appendix may be removed easily. Drop test consists of: standing on the tip of the toes and drop to the heels, if you feel a sharp pain to the appendix area, the appendicitis is confirmed. If you push on the other side of the abdomen where the patient reports the pain, quickly remove the pressure the pain will be felt in the appendix area.

Treatment of acute appendicitis

It is compulsory to have a surgical intervention immediately the diagnosis of acute appendicitis is established. The operation is known as: appendectomy. It is a common condition and a common operation in the world. Laparoscopic is performed in the right lower abdomen, if the appendicitis is uncomplicated the patient is able to go home in 24-48 hours from the operation.

If appendicitis was suspected and during surgical procedure the surgeon find that the appendix is not inflammed, than the surgeon will remove it anyway and look for other causes of possible pain in the abdomen. Recognizing acute appendicitis is not a difficult matter as long as you know its symptoms.