LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Appendicitis: Pain
built 614 days ago
Appendicitis is the one of the most common abdominal emergencies found in the United States. More males than females develop appendicitis. It is rare in the elderly and in children under the age of two. The hallmark symptom of appendicitis is increasingly severe abdominal pain. Since many different conditions can cause abdominal pain, an accurate diagnosis of appendicitis can be difficult. Other conditions can have symptoms similar to appendicitis, especially in women.
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Appendicitis is one of the causes of serious belly pain. It happens when the appendix , a part of the large intestine, becomes infected and inflamed. Experts do not know what the appendix does in the body, but most of the time it does not cause problems.
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Appendicitis pain often feels worse after releasing gentle pressure applied to the area. This is called rebound tenderness. Coughing, sneezing, or walking seems to make the pain increase. Some relief can come from lying on your side with your legs pulled up beneath you.
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Appendicitis is perhaps the greatest worry for parents when their child has significant abdominal pain. Working in an urgent care clinic, "Is it an appendicitis?" was probably the most asked question by a concerned parent about a child who was groaning from stomach problems. There are many misconceptions about this disease and it's a constant dilemma to decide if the abdominal pain your child is feeling right now is something that can wait or if they should rush into the emergency room right away.
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Appendicitis is common, with a lifetime occurrence of 7 percent. Abdominal pain and anorexia are the predominant symptoms. The most important physical examination finding is right lower quadrant tenderness to palpation. A complete blood count and urinalysis are sometimes helpful in determining the diagnosis and supporting the presence or absence of appendicitis, while appendiceal computed tomographic scans and ultrasonography can be helpful in equivocal cases. Delay in diagnosing appendicitis increases the risk of perforation and complications. Complication and mortality rates are much higher in children and the elderly.
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Appendicitis is diagnosed by physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging tests. During a physical examination, the doctor palpates the abdomen to find tender and painful spots. A physical examination can ... include a rectal examination, examination of the genitals in boys, and a gynecologic examination in girls, because other conditions, such as testicular torsion and ectopic pregnancy may have symptoms similar to appendicitis. Laboratory tests involve an analysis of white blood cell count to determine whether infection is present, urinalysis to rule out urinary tract or kidney infection, and other tests, such as pregnancy and liver function tests, to rule out other causes of abdominal pain. Imaging tests can include abdominal x rays, ultrasound, and computed tomography (CT).
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