Appendicitis indications include a rigid abdomen and a patient reacting when the appendix area is probed. The process of stiffening muscles is known as guarding.

Part of the examination may include the doctor using a digital rectal exam using a lubricated finger to check for potential tumors. Women may be checked for gynecological issues that may be the source of the pain.

To rule out other issues, doctors may also run the following tests:

1. Urine test - A urinalysis will make sure that a urinary tract infection or kidney stone is not the source of pain.
2. Blood test - A high white blood cell count will indicate an infection.
3. Imaging tests - An x-ray, ultrasound or CT scan may be used to make sure appendicitis -- and not some other issue -- is causing the pain.

Once appendicitis is confirmed, surgery will be scheduled. Antibiotic treatments may also be started to begin fighting the infection. Surgery for an appendix issue is either done as an open surgery with one abdominal incision about two to four inches long (a laparotomy) or may be done with small incisions using specialized surgical tools and a video camera (a laparoscopic surgery). The laparoscopic surgery has a faster recovery time and causes less pain and scarring.

However, if the appendix has ruptured and infection has spread into the abdominal cavity, an open appendectomy may be needed to make sure that all the pockets of infection have been removed.