Which symptom set is typical of appendicitis?

Which symptom set is typical of appendicitis?

• A. Fever, anorexia, sharp right lower quadrant pain with guarding and rebound tenderness
• B. Chronic cough with sputum production
• C. Left lower quadrant pain with diarrhea
• D. Diarrhea and flatulence

Answer: (A)

Acute appendicitis typically presents with pain that often begins around the abdomen and then localizes to the right lower quadrant, becoming sharp. Tenderness with guarding and rebound in the right lower quadrant indicates irritation of the peritoneum from the inflamed appendix. Fever and anorexia commonly accompany this process as the body responds to infection and inflammation. This combination—localized RLQ pain with peritoneal signs plus systemic symptoms like fever and loss of appetite—fits appendicitis best. The other options don’t fit because they point to different systems or conditions: chronic cough with sputum production suggests a respiratory infection, left lower quadrant pain with diarrhea points toward colitis or diverticular disease, and diarrhea with flatulence is a nonspecific GI symptom not typical of acute appendicitis.

Acute appendicitis typically presents with pain that often begins around the abdomen and then localizes to the right lower quadrant, becoming sharp. Tenderness with guarding and rebound in the right lower quadrant indicates irritation of the peritoneum from the inflamed appendix. Fever and anorexia commonly accompany this process as the body responds to infection and inflammation. This combination—localized RLQ pain with peritoneal signs plus systemic symptoms like fever and loss of appetite—fits appendicitis best.

The other options don’t fit because they point to different systems or conditions: chronic cough with sputum production suggests a respiratory infection, left lower quadrant pain with diarrhea points toward colitis or diverticular disease, and diarrhea with flatulence is a nonspecific GI symptom not typical of acute appendicitis.