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ultrasound scan confirm, whether appendix is inflamed?

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I have had pain to right side of abdomen for 2 vyears on and off and recently past 6 weeks pain been getting stronger. Occassionally nauseous with it and was vomitting yesterday with it. How do the drs know when the right time is to take appendix out. Does an ultrasound scan confirm, whether your appendix is inflamed or not?


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replied March 19th, 2011
Appendix and Appendicitis Answer A21034
Hi, welcome to the ehealth forum and I am glad to help you.
You seem concerned by the pain in the right inguinal fossa off and on for the last 2 years and aggarvated since last six weeks.
The diagnosis of inflamed appendix remains a clinical one and no investigation including ultrasound can confirm the diagnosis of appendicitis for sure.The diagnosis requires high index of suspicion.
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of peritonitis and shock. It has been recognized as one of the most common causes of severe acute abdominal pain worldwide.
Chronic appendicitis usually refers to a milder form of the illness. Chronic appendicitis is very rare and its symptoms are less pronounced, in some cases even undetectable.
Appendicitis in general is taken to be acute appendicitis and it requires active management as described above.Your case warrants further work up to consider alternative differential diagnoses.
Hope this helps. Take care.
Note: This post is not to emphasise final diagnosis as the same cannot be made online and is aimed just to provide medical information and no treatment suggested above be taken without face to face consultation with health care professional.


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