A 31-year-old member asked:
How can you tell the difference in symptoms between appendicitis and upset stomach?
2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Barry Rosenanswered
General Surgery 36 years experience
Pain type & location: When i think of an upset stomach, i think of waves of cramping pain in the mid abdomen. Appendicitis may often begin like this, but then "changes", moving to the right lower abdomen, becoming sharp, severe, constant, and progressively worsening. Many people can localize it well enough by pointing to one spot with one finger.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Paul Vitenasanswered
Cosmetic Surgery 41 years experience
Appendicitis: An upset stomach usually occurs in the epigastrium or upper mid abdomen. Appendicitis usually starts with right lower quadrant abdominal pain. It usually progresses from this area to the naval area and is accompanied by loss of appetite and sometimes fever.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 40-year-old member asked:
What are the differences in symptoms between appendicitis and a typical upset stomach for kids?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A Verified Doctoranswered
Emergency Medicine 48 years experience
Pain: A typical "upset stomach" causes nausea and/or vomiting, and maybe a pain in the center of the stomach that might get better after vomiting. Appendicitis causes pain in the lower right side of the abdomen, often with loss of appetite, possibly a little diarrhea, and usually fever. The pain usually gets steadily worse. Often some tests are needed to see if it is an early/atypical appendicitis.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old member asked:
Can you please describe the differences in symptoms between appendicitis and upset stomach for kids?
2 doctor answers • 12 doctors weighed in
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
Intensity/location: Most kids with a soft but tender tummy will not have something bad happening. The appendix is usually sitting next to the upper part of the right thigh muscle, so often a kid that won't walk (from pain in belly or rt leg) or can't hop up/dn may be an appi. The worse the kid looks the more likely he needs to be seen. Even with new tech, half of kids today are ruptured by the time of surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Sahba Ferdowsi commented
General Practice 20 years experience
great answer. Wishing you'all the best.
Feb 9, 2012
Dr. Barry Rosen commented
General Surgery 36 years experience
Less than 25% of patients with appendicitis are found to have perforation at the time of surgery, although this rate is higher in the very young and very old.
Feb 9, 2012
A 46-year-old member asked:
Can you tell me how i can settle an upset stomach?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Heidi Fowleranswered
Psychiatry 27 years experience
GI Upset: Nausea can be triggered by the brain or my GI irritants. Ginger is an intestinal spasmolytic & helps eliminate gas from the intestines. Ginger also impacts the feedback loop between nausea center in the brain and the stomach. It is very beneficial for nausea and motion sickness.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
2.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Sep 28, 2016
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