In assessing a patient for symptoms of appendicitis, which of the following signs would you expect?

In assessing a patient for symptoms of appendicitis, which of the following signs would you expect?

• A. Positive Murphy's sign
• B. Positive cough test
• C. Positive McBurney’s point tenderness
• D. Positive Kernig’s sign

Answer: (C)

McBurney's point tenderness is a classic sign associated with appendicitis. This point is located one-third of the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus on the right side. When physical examination reveals tenderness at this specific point, it often indicates inflammation or irritation of the appendix, which aligns with the clinical presentation of appendicitis. The presence of tenderness here helps to differentiate appendicitis from other abdominal conditions. The other signs mentioned are not specifically linked to appendicitis. For instance, Murphy's sign is indicative of gallbladder inflammation, cough test may suggest peritoneal irritation but is not specific to appendicitis, and Kernig’s sign is associated with meningeal irritation rather than appendiceal pathology. Therefore, the presence of tenderness at McBurney’s point is a critical diagnostic indicator for appendicitis, making it the correct answer in this context.

McBurney's point tenderness is a classic sign associated with appendicitis. This point is located one-third of the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus on the right side. When physical examination reveals tenderness at this specific point, it often indicates inflammation or irritation of the appendix, which aligns with the clinical presentation of appendicitis. The presence of tenderness here helps to differentiate appendicitis from other abdominal conditions.

The other signs mentioned are not specifically linked to appendicitis. For instance, Murphy's sign is indicative of gallbladder inflammation, cough test may suggest peritoneal irritation but is not specific to appendicitis, and Kernig’s sign is associated with meningeal irritation rather than appendiceal pathology. Therefore, the presence of tenderness at McBurney’s point is a critical diagnostic indicator for appendicitis, making it the correct answer in this context.