Health A-Z

Medical Content Created by the Faculty of the
Harvard Medical School

Appendicitis

Symptoms

Symptoms of appendicitis include:

• Abdominal pain, usually starting just above the belly button and then moving to the right lower side of the abdomen

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Abdominal swelling

• Pain when the right side of the abdomen is touched

• Low-grade fever

• Inability to pass gas

• Change in normal bowel pattern

If you have symptoms of appendicitis, do not take enemas or laxatives to relieve constipation: These medicines increase the chance that the appendix will burst. Also, avoid taking pain-relief medicines before seeing your doctor, because these medications can mask appendicitis symptoms and make diagnosis difficult.