A doctor may diagnose appendicitis quite easily if you have the typical symptoms. However, as described above, not everyone has typical symptoms. Sometimes it is difficult for doctors to be sure that appendicitis is the cause of the symptoms.

Some people develop pain that is similar to appendicitis, but which is caused by other conditions. For example, pelvic inflammatory disease or a urine infection. Some people have surgery only to find that the appendix is normal and not inflamed.

There is no easy and foolproof test to confirm appendicitis. A surgeon often has to make a judgement whether to operate or not. It depends on whether the symptoms suggest that appendicitis is the probable diagnosis. Sometimes a surgeon advises to 'wait and see' for a few hours or so. This allows some time to see if symptoms progress to a more definite diagnosis, or if they change or go away.

Sometimes tests are used if there is doubt about the diagnosis. For example, an ultrasound scan or a CT scan may help to clarify the cause of the symptoms in some cases. But doing tests takes time and may get in the way of doing prompt surgery, which is often the top priority (see below).

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