Kids and Health Care: Appendicitis

Diagnosing appendicitis is tricky. There are no definitive tests other than using a medical history, physical examination and laboratory tests that look at the white blood cell count. Appendicitis is most common in people ages 10 to 30, although it can occur at any age. It is unusual in children younger than 2.

The appendix is a three- to six-inch hollow sac attached to the large intestine (colon) where the large and small intestines join. It's located in the lower right area of the abdomen...and has no known function.

The first indicator of appendicitis is abdominal pain. It might be generalized pain or it might be localized in one area -- typically the lower right quadrant. Moving, walking or coughing increases the pain. Other key symptoms are loss of appetite, slight fever, nausea and sometimes vomiting. If you think your child has appendicitis, best thing to do is take him or her to the doctor. If you delay, the appendix can rupture and lead to fatal consequences. (For more details, see Chapter 17.)