How to Diagnose Appendicitis

Inflammation of the appendix causes appendicitis. Appendicitis must be corrected quickly because if it is left untreated, the appendix can burst. The appendix will then leak infectious material into the abdomen. This leads to other painful and serious medical conditions. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose the appendicitis because it is similar to other medical conditions. Here is how the appendicitis is diagnosed.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

1. Take a medical history and a physical exam of the patient. Find out if there is a history of other abdominal issues. Check the area and vital signs, include an elevated temperature and moderate to severe tenderness in the right abdominal area when pressed on.

2. Press on the area where it is hurting. Push on the right side of the abdomen. Check for rebound tenderness. This is when the pain is worse, when you quickly remove your hand from the sore area.

3. Check the white blood count. The white blood count should be elevated if there is an infection.

4. Take an abdominal X-ray. A small, hardened stool which blocks the appensiceal opening may appear. This blocked stool may be causing the appendicitis. Look for the hardened calcified obstruction.

5. Perform an ultrasound which may show an enlarged appendix or an abscess. This only happens in half of the patients with appendicitis.

6. Use the other methods to detect appendicitis. A barium enema can detect appendicitis by inserting barium fluid into the colon showing an impression where inflammation occurs. Take a CT scan to diagnose appendicitis or eliminating other abdominal issues. Use a laparoscope, which is a small tube with a camera that is placed into the abdominal and searches for the appendicitis.