Can appendicitis cause a fever?

Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
Updated on October 25, 2024
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Appendicitis can cause fever, and generally, it is considered an inflammatory condition. Besides fever, patients may experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, etc. Typically, the abdominal pain manifests as lower right quadrant pain, which is referred pain. If a patient has fever and typical lower right quadrant pain, further investigations like abdominal ultrasound, complete blood count, and CT scans should be carried out. Diagnosing appendicitis is usually not difficult. The treatment of choice for appendicitis is generally surgical intervention, especially for early-stage patients with symptoms lasting less than three days, where an appendectomy is recommended. However, in some elderly patients with conditions like hypertension, diabetes, etc., who are not suitable for surgery, especially if the duration of the illness is more than three days, conservative medical treatment can be chosen. Conservative treatment primarily involves active anti-infection and anti-inflammatory measures and usually takes longer. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a doctor.)

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What are the symptoms of appendicitis?

The symptoms of appendicitis include migratory pain to the lower right abdomen, with some patients directly experiencing pain in the lower right abdomen. This is because the appendix is located in the ileocecal area of the lower right abdomen, and the appendix cavity is connected to the cecum. When the appendix becomes inflamed, it manifests as pain in the lower right abdomen or migratory pain in the lower right abdomen. The inflammation of appendicitis is generally caused by a blockage in the appendix cavity due to a fecalith, limiting secretion, and bacterial growth within the appendix cavity. Therefore, it is generally recommended to start anti-inflammatory treatment for appendicitis as soon as possible. If the inflammation is severe, surgery should be performed as soon as possible to remove the appendix and completely cure the inflammation. The symptoms of appendicitis also appear as migratory pain in the lower right abdomen. A few patients may also experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. If the appendix perforates, symptoms include pain across the abdomen, tenderness, and abdominal muscle rigidity indicative of peritonitis.

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Where does chronic appendicitis hurt?

Chronic appendicitis, unlike acute appendicitis, does not begin with upper abdominal pain followed by pain in the lower right abdomen, which we refer to as migratory lower right abdominal pain; migratory lower right abdominal pain is a characteristic symptom of acute appendicitis. Chronic appendicitis typically presents with chronic recurrent pain, discomfort, dull pain, or bloating in the lower right abdomen. During a physical examination, chronic appendicitis generally manifests as fixed tenderness in the lower right abdomen, with less evident rebound pain. Rebound pain in the lower right abdomen during a physical exam only occurs when chronic appendicitis acutely flares up and signs of peritonitis are present.

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Appendicitis pain location

Appendicitis initially presents with pain throughout the abdomen and around the navel, which gradually shifts to the lower right abdomen, and the pain becomes more localized. Besides abdominal pain, symptoms of appendicitis can also include nausea, vomiting, and fever. Most cases of appendicitis require surgical treatment. Currently, laparoscopic appendectomy is a common surgical method. This technique involves less bleeding during surgery, quicker postoperative recovery, and minimal scarring. If one cannot tolerate general anesthesia, an option is to remove the appendix through an incision at McBurney's point.

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Acute appendicitis clinical features

Acute appendicitis generally presents primarily as abdominal pain, specifically migratory pain to the lower right abdomen. Initially, the patient may experience stomach pain, which gradually shifts to pain in the lower right abdomen. Whether it is appendicitis needs to be diagnosed by a physical examination by a doctor, or an ultrasound of the appendix during the acute phase can be performed. If the appendix appears significantly swollen on the ultrasound, it can also confirm the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Typically, the best treatment for acute appendicitis is surgery, especially if the condition is very severe and critical, as it may lead to perforation of the appendix and result in purulent peritonitis, which is very serious and life-threatening. Therefore, once diagnosed with acute appendicitis, it is best to be hospitalized for surgery.

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Can appendicitis be contagious?

Appendicitis is a nonspecific inflammation occurring in the lumen of the appendix. It is not contagious, therefore, it is not an infectious disease. Once appendicitis is diagnosed, it is mostly treated surgically because the main blood supply to the appendix is the appendicular artery, which can easily lead to ischemic necrosis during inflammation. If controlled solely by medication, symptoms are likely to recur easily. Currently, appendectomy is commonly performed using minimally invasive techniques, under laparoscopy, which results in less bleeding during surgery and faster recovery afterward. Generally, if there is no suppuration or perforation, patients can be discharged three days after surgery. Postoperative care should be enhanced, including eating more vegetables to prevent constipation.