Appendicitis symptoms start with belly pain that moves and intensifies in your lower right side. Without surgery, perforated appendicitis can lead to serious complications like peritonitis or sepsis.

Appendicitis can feel very similar to gas. However, unlike gas, appendicitis pain occurs specifically to the lower right of the belly button, is severe, and worsens over the next few hours.

Lindsay Curtis is a health & medical writer in South Florida. She worked as a communications professional for health nonprofits and the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of ...