You may not know much about your appendix other than the fact that it has not been removed from your body. Because it is easily removable you may wonder why you have it in the first place, but that is not important. What is important is knowing the signs and symptoms of appendicitis, because it is something that will affect you quickly and suddenly, with no warning. Left untreated, your appendix could burst and your life could be in danger. The most telltale symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain that often begins near the bellybutton. The pain is not localized; it moves from the bellybutton down the right side of the body to the lower right side of the stomach. The pain is described by people that have suffered from appendicitis as different from any other pain they have experienced. However, the pain becomes far worse when your move, even if you simply walk or cough. In addition, you may develop a fever and feel nauseous. The pain you will experience from appendicitis may not be severe; it may merely be uncomfortable. However, it will not go unnoticed. In addition to the most obvious symptoms of appendicitis, you may also experience less common symptoms such as constipation, back pain or a swollen abdomen. You may even throw up a few times. Also, you may not have any of these symptoms and only experience pain on the lower right side of your abdomen. However, if you experience these symptoms together you need to seek medical attention immediately; before your appendix burst. For children and women that are pregnant, the signs and symptoms of appendicitis are very different because the appendix is not located in the same place as it is on adults and women that are not expectant. Because the appendix is shifted in these people, the pain felt will not be in the stomach but more to the side. It is important to contact your doctor immediately, before the appendix ruptures, which it tends to do after approximately 24 hours of the onset of your symptoms. Of course, on their own, these symptoms could be indicative of a myriad of other illnesses.