The symptoms come on rapidly in an otherwise healthy child. Any child with abdominal pain persisting longer than eight to 12 hours should be seen by a doctor. Early examination by a pediatrician or family physician and referral to a surgeon will go a long way toward lowering the chances of a ruptured appendix. About 7 percent of people have appendicitis sometime during their lives. It is most common in school-age children.
Physicians can often diagnosis appendicitis by examining the patient.
They may order certain tests, such as a white cell count, urinalysis, x-ray or, occasionally, a CT scan, to confirm the diagnosis. Any question regarding a medical diagnosis, treatment, referral, drug availability or pricing should be directed to either a licensed physician or to the product's manufacturer.