Appendicitis in Children

If your child is complaining of a lingering stomachache, you may fear that it might be their appendix. “Appendicitis is inflammation and bacterial overgrowth or blockage of the appendix,” said James Davis, M.D., a pediatric surgeon at Pediatrix® Surgical Associates, noting that it’s most common in children between the ages of 5 and 15. A good way to diagnose appendicitis is the jump test. “It is among the most straightforward, user-friendly tests one can perform,” said Dr. Davis. To do the jump test, simply have your child jump with both hands in the air, reaching toward the ceiling. “If this elicits significant abdominal pain, studies suggest there is up to a 70 percent chance that the child has appendicitis.”

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