Appendicitis in children

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What is appendicitis?

Children often complain about having a sore tummy and most of the time, it’s nothing to worry about. But appendicitis is something more serious that you need to keep on your radar. It’s a medical condition triggered when the appendix - a small thin pouch in the abdomen - becomes swollen. No one is sure why this happens, but it can cause intermittent stomach pains which come and go over time.

Early intervention is vital to prevent serious health complications. If you suspect that your child has appendicitis, you should seek medical attention immediately by taking them to a hospital’s emergency department or our urgent care centre or calling 999.

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What are the symptoms to look out for?

Intermittent pain
Swelling in the abdomen
Nausea or vomiting
Loss of appetite
Diarrhoea
A fever and high temperature

Stomach pains may feel worse when your child coughs, walks or if you press lightly on their tummy. Eventually, the pain will increase and become persistent, travelling to the lower right-hand side of their body.

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How is appendicitis diagnosed?

It can be difficult to diagnose because the common symptoms only appear in about half of cases. The appendix can also be found in different locations depending on your child.

Your consultant will ask you about your child’s symptoms, examine their abdomen and see if their pain gets worse when pressure is applied.

They may also recommend further tests, including:

A blood test for signs of infection
A urine test to rule out a bladder infection
An ultrasound scan to check for swelling
A pregnancy test depending on the child’s age and sex
A CT scan

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Treatment for appendicitis

If your child has appendicitis, their appendix will normally need to be removed as soon as possible. This is done using a surgical procedure called an appendectomy.

There are two ways to perform this.

Keyhole surgery: This is the preferred method because it allows your child to recover much more quickly. Our surgeons make three or four small incisions in the abdomen and use special instruments and a tube with a small camera on the end to remove your child’s appendix.
Open surgery: In some cases, open surgery might be suggested. Our surgeons will make a single large cut in the lower right-hand side of the stomach to remove the appendix.

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Appendicitis FAQs

Is appendicitis always an emergency?

Not if it’s found early and treated. With rapid medical attention, you can reduce the chance of your child’s appendicitis advancing to become life-threatening.

There are three key stages:

Uncomplicated appendicitis: In the first instance, the appendix becomes inflamed. Your child might experience dull pain around their belly button that gradually moves towards the right side of their stomach.
Acute appendicitis: At this stage, the inflammation spreads. Your child’s pain will likely become more severe and other symptoms, like fever and chills, may well develop.
Perforated appendicitis: If your child’s appendix bursts, they will unfortunately be in severe pain and become vulnerable to potentially life-threatening conditions such as sepsis.

What does appendicitis feel like?

It usually causes pain in the middle of the abdomen, which might come and go, but gets worse over time. Your child may also feel nausea, loss of appetite or have a high temperature.

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Can appendicitis pain come and go?

Yes, it’s often intermittent, which can make it difficult to understand what’s happening at first. If your child does have appendicitis, their appendix will likely need to be removed as soon as possible, so it’s best to seek urgent medical advice.

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Our London clinics and centres

From complex surgery to diagnostic tests and procedures, we provide care across our London network of hospitals and specialist clinics. Children can also visit our paediatric centre at The Portland Hospital.