Is appendicitis nauseating?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on March 23, 2025
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Appendicitis can cause nausea, primarily due to inflammation stimulating spasms in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to nausea, symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, tenderness in the abdomen, and rebound pain. If vomiting and nausea are severe, timely appendectomy should be performed. Currently, laparoscopic appendectomy is common. This surgical method involves less bleeding during surgery and quicker postoperative recovery. After surgery, a semi-liquid diet can be chosen on days 1 to 2, and a normal diet can be resumed on days 3 to 5. It is also important to consume more vegetables and increase the intake of plant-based fiber thereafter.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Does appendicitis surgery require an incision?

Appendicitis surgery can be performed through traditional open surgery or minimally invasive treatment. Open surgery involves a traditional incision at McBurney's point to remove the appendix, which is now rarely used, predominantly replaced by minimally invasive treatment under laparoscopy. The procedure is the same for both methods, involving ligation of the appendicular artery followed by cutting the appendix at its base and suturing the stump. The advantages of minimally invasive surgery include less intraoperative bleeding, faster postoperative recovery, and less physical trauma. Patients can choose between open surgery or minimally invasive treatment based on their personal circumstances and financial conditions.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Acute appendicitis pain level

The pain of acute appendicitis is mainly abdominal pain. Currently, there are no available data for reference to understand the level of pain in appendicitis, and the pain associated with acute appendicitis is related to the individual's constitution and the extent of inflammation in the appendix. If the inflammation is mild, limited only to the serosal layer, then the pain is relatively mild and tolerable. If the inflammation is more extensive or involves pus formation, perforation, and affects the peritoneum, it leads to noticeable peritonitis and causes severe, knife-like pain, making the patient scared to move and covered in profuse sweat; the pain is quite severe. For acute appendicitis, surgery is currently advocated as the treatment method.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Will there be a scar from appendicitis surgery?

Appendectomy can leave scars, especially more noticeable in people prone to scarring. Currently, there is a minimally invasive treatment that involves the removal of the appendix under laparoscopy. This method only requires three small incisions on the abdomen, resulting in smaller scars and a faster postoperative recovery. The traditional method, which involves making an incision at McBurney's point, leaves a slightly larger scar and has a slower recovery process. After recovery, the application of aloe vera can help reduce scarring. It is important to take good care of the incision, eat plenty of vegetables to prevent constipation, and protect the incision. At least two weeks of rest is necessary after the surgery, during which vigorous exercise should be avoided.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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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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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Where does appendicitis hurt?

In general clinical practice, the pain associated with appendicitis mostly occurs in the lower right abdomen. Some patients experience very typical migratory right lower abdominal pain which usually starts in the upper abdomen, gradually moves around the navel, and finally localizes in the lower right abdomen. Direct pain in the lower right abdomen could also be indicative of appendicitis. In rare cases, if there is a reversal of organs or an abnormal position of the appendix, pain may occur in the upper right abdomen or lower abdomen as well. For pregnant women, the appendix may be positioned higher and could cause pain under the rib cage. Therefore, the diagnosis of appendicitis should be based on the specific condition of the patient and related diagnostic tests.