Physical examination

The doctor can check for tenderness over your abdomen, especially over the lower right side of your belly, a spot known as McBurney's point.
The approach to suspected appendicitis may include a period of observation.

Laboratory tests

- bloodtest to find out whether the signs of infection in the body such as elevated white blood cell count, sedimantation rate or elevated inflammation protein (C-reactive proteine)

- urinetest

Imaging tests
There is no one test that will diagnose appendicitis with certainty.

Ultrasonography:
is a safe and painless method and let to examine the belly at the place of pain.
In experienced hands the reason of pain can be detected very quickly.
It’s a best examination for pregnant women and especially in children.
In some cases 15% this examination is negatieve despite the presence of appendicitis.

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Abdominal X-Ray:
detect the fecalith (the hardened and calcified, pea-sized piece of stool that blocks the appendiceal opening) that may be the cause of appendicitis. This is especially true in children.
Visualization of an appendicolith in a patient with symptoms consistent with appendicitis is
highly suggestive of appendicitis, but this occurs in fewer than 10% of cases. It is present in about 30% of acute appendicitis cases in children. The consensus in the literature is that plain radiographs are insensitive, nonspecific, and not cost-effective.

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Computer tomography:
will be the diagnostic test of choice, especially in adults in places where it is readily available.
Not good for children and pregnant women because of irradiation. The contrast which is used for imaging of appendix is contra-indicated for people with iodine allergy.

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Laparoscopy:
helps to find the reason of pain in the difficult cases and at the same time lets to operate the patient and to relieve him from pain.

Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure in which a small fiberoptic tube with a camera is inserted into the abdomen through a small puncture made on the abdominal wall. Laparoscopy allows a direct view of the appendix as well as other abdominal and pelvic organs. If appendicitis is found, the inflamed appendix can be removed with the laparascope. The disadvantage of laparoscopy compared to ultrasound and CT is that it requires a general anesthetic.