Murphy's triad is a collection of three
signs and symptoms associated with acute
appendicitis
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these typical symptoms. Severe complications of a ru ...
, a
medical emergency
A medical emergency is an acute injury or illness that poses an immediate risk to a person's life or long-term health, sometimes referred to as a situation risking "life or limb". These emergencies may require assistance from another, qualified ...
which presents with lower right abdominal pain (Right Lower Quadrant; RLQ), along with nausea, vomiting, and fever.
Components of Murphy's triad
*Pain
*Vomiting
*Fever
(Mnemonic PVT Murphy: Pain, Vomiting, Temperature)
History
Murphy's triad was named after
John Benjamin Murphy
John Benjamin Murphy, born John Murphy (December 21, 1857 – August 11, 1916) was an American physician and abdominal surgeon noted for advocating early surgical intervention in appendicitis appendectomy, and several eponyms: Murphy’s button, ...
, an American physician and abdominal surgeons and one of the earliest advocates for the intervention of the removal of the appendix in all cases of appendicitis. According to the
British Medical Journal, Murphy's triad consists of "pain in the abdomen followed by nausea or vomiting, and general abdominal sensitiveness on the right side, followed by an elevated body temperature." Although the original notes on Murphy's triad includes four signs (the fourth being a rise in temperature), it may be noted that "it is evident that it is not a constant feature throughout an attack and
hat
A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...
the elevation of temperature may be absent at certain stages and in certain circumstances."
References
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Medical signs