How can you tell if your child has the stomach flu or appendicitis?

she has a fever, cough ,really bad stomach pains till she is in tears and feels nausa. the dr says it's probly the stomach flu but i feel like it's something else. i know you all are not drs but i would like some tips please.

she hasnt thrown up and it's been hurting since yesterday morning

Poor baby, it's no fun to be sick like that....I would hope that the doctor poked around on her belly to see if she is tender on the right side (there is an area they can feel that would indicate appendicitis, it's called the McBurney's point). The stomach flu runs about 24- 48 hrs, and if she's not any better in 2 days, take her back.

if she is this sick then take her to the er. they can run tests to see if its her appendix. waiting to long if it is can be really bad.

The most common signs and symptoms of appendicitis are abdominal pain, tenderness, vomiting and fever. The most painful area is located halfway between the hip bone and the navel, but may vary. Since the appendix is one your child's RIGHT side (this is the key to diagnosing appendicitis) if she has more pain on the right you should go to an emergency room immediatley! Let her lie on her left side and hold her knees to her chest (it may be less painful)

If the pain isn't localized, it probably isn't appendicitis. But if she's in real pain and has a fever...take her to the emergency room! The appendix has rupture and cause bad consequences! Better safe than sorry....good luck!

I would call the on call pediatrician. If you don't have one, go to the er.

The fever is worrisome.

Low grade fever. 99-101.
Abdominal pain, usually worse on the right side about 2 inches above the illiac crest.
Rebound tenderness. Slowly push in the on the abdomen. Hold it for a second. Then let go quick. If they yell that it hurts, they may have a ruptured appy with peritonitis.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

The sensible thing to do is it has lasted more than 24 hours, go to the hospital ER. They can do some blood tests to see if the white count is elevated and even do a cat scan of the abdomen to see what the appendix looks like.