Pain above the navel

There are various causes of abdominal pain, particularly pain above the belly button. Abdominal pain above the belly button is the most common complaint. There are many circumstances that can cause pain above the belly button – each of them must be taken into account before the doctor makes an accurate diagnosis.

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Causes of pain above the navel

• Gastric ulcer
• Peritonitis (damage to the inner lining of the abdominal cavity)
• Gastric reflux of the esophagus (heartburn)
• Lower pleurisy (inflammation of the outer lining of the lungs)
• Gallstones causing inflammation of the gallbladder
• Duodenal ulcer (inflammation of the small intestine associated with the stomach)
• Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, which can cause severe back pain)
• Musculoskeletal strain

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What does pain above the navel indicate?

Pain above the belly button may be epigastric pain. This pain may be associated with stomach disorders. Persistent pain in this area may be a signal of problems with the upper small intestine, gallbladder, or even the pancreas.

The vast number of possible causes of pain above the belly button means that abdominal pain can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. Diagnosis is usually made using blood tests, endoscopy, x-rays, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT (computer tomography).

Pain above the navel is associated with internal organs

Abdominal pain can vary in intensity from mild abdominal pain to severe, sharp pain. The pain is often non-specific and can be caused by a variety of conditions, as many organs are located in the abdominal cavity, in the navel area.

Sometimes the pain is directly related to a specific organ, such as the bladder or ovaries. Generally, pain often occurs in the digestive system. For example, pain above the belly button can be caused by appendicitis, gastrointestinal spasms, or food poisoning.

Two things to worry about are if you have abdominal pain due to appendicitis or an ulcer. Inflammation in the abdominal cavity usually starts with pain in the center of the abdomen, around the belly button, above the belly button, then loss of appetite, nausea, fever. As appendicitis progresses, the pain usually moves to the lower right side of the abdomen. The inflamed organ can lead to rupture, which requires emergency medical care.

Pain in appendicitis

Appendicitis is the most common abdominal disease, especially among children and young adults. One person in fifteen suffers from appendicitis pain. The incidence of appendicitis is highest among boys aged ten to fourteen years and among girls aged fifteen to nineteen years.

This condition is rare in older adults and children under two years of age. Pain above the belly button due to appendicitis can occur due to several reasons, including infection, inflammation, ulceration, perforation or rupture of organs, muscles that are uncoordinated, and blockage of blood flow to organs.

Symptoms of appendicitis

The characteristic symptom of appendicitis is pain that begins near or above the belly button. The pain may be severe or relatively mild. It eventually progresses to pain in the lower right corner of the abdomen.

There it becomes more persistent and more severe. Any movement or coughing makes the pain worse. The abdomen becomes hard to the touch. An increase in these symptoms indicates an increased likelihood of peritonitis.

How to treat symptoms of abdominal pain above the belly button?

Symptoms of pain above the belly button can be treated with several medications. Sometimes activated charcoal capsules work best in this case. However, if you take antacids, you will soon feel some relief, especially if the pain is caused by heartburn and indigestion.

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Pain above the navel in a child

Chronic and recurrent abdominal pain lasting more than 3 hours is a very serious reason to see a doctor. The cause of this pain in a child may be anxiety or other psychological disorders, but it may also be due to a physical disorder. Functional abdominal pain is most often vague and localized around or above the belly button. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and a physical examination.

Pain above the belly button in children under 5 years of age who are losing weight, bleeding, or have severe vomiting or diarrhea is likely caused by a physical disorder.

Chronic and recurrent abdominal pain affects 10 to 15% of children aged 5 to 16 years, most often aged 8 to 12 years. Such pain is rare among children under 5 years of age. It is more common in girls.

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Causes of pain above the navel in children

There are over 100 different causes of chronic abdominal pain in children, but the most common are functional pain, lactose intolerance, constipation, gastroesophageal reflux.

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Functional pain in children

Functional pain is the result of stress or anxiety (due to problems at school, at home, or with friends), rather than an underlying physical disorder. It's like a tension headache. Tension headaches are real pain, but there is no underlying physical problem like a brain tumor or stroke. The headache is a measure of how the body is responding to stress. So instead of having a tension headache, kids tend to feel a tightness in their stomach.

Pain above the belly button can be very serious and is usually life-changing for a child. For example, children with this type of pain often miss school. The exact mechanism of functional abdominal pain is unknown, but many doctors believe that the pain occurs when the nerves of the gastrointestinal tract become overly sensitive to stimuli (such as from the expansion or contraction of the intestines), which most children find very uncomfortable. Why these nerves become oversensitive is unclear, but the pain may be related to a previous infection or allergy.

There are no obvious factors associated with pain as a child's response to stress or anxiety. If school is a major problem, pain is usually worse on weekdays and less so on weekends and during holidays. Children with functional pain may suffer from immaturity, dependence on parents, anxiety or depression, fear, tension, and perfectionism.

Often parents place their child in a special position in the family (for example, an only child, the youngest child, or they only wanted a boy or only a girl, or the child is growing up among a large group of siblings), or due to a medical problem.

Genetic factors, stress, conflicts with other children, social status, and any major mental disorders (such as depression or anxiety) can all help cause functional pain above the belly button.

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Lactose intolerance

Lactose is found in milk and other dairy products. Lactase is the enzyme needed to break down lactose. Children who lack lactase cannot digest and absorb lactose, which leads to diarrhea and cramping pain in the abdomen above the navel.

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Constipation

Children who do not drink enough fluids often experience constipation. Lack of fluid and fiber in the diet causes hard stools that are difficult to pass. This can cause abdominal discomfort, pain during bowel movements, or result in gastroesophageal reflux.

Gastroesophageal reflux in children

This condition causes food and acid to flow backward from the stomach into the esophagus and sometimes into the mouth. Reflux can cause abdominal pain, heartburn, and nausea. Some causes become chronic and cause abdominal pain above the belly button.

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The nature of pain above the navel

The further the pain is from the navel area, the less likely it is to be caused by functional disorders. The intensity of the pain ranges from mild to severe. The pain usually lasts from a few minutes to a few hours, but about 10% of children experience pain that lasts all day.

Diagnosis of symptoms and examination

Children with symptoms typical of functional pain do not require special testing. Some symptoms make it difficult to accurately diagnose functional pain. These symptoms include weight loss, bleeding, severe vomiting or diarrhea, and being under 5 years of age. If these factors are present, or the cause is unclear, doctors will usually do basic blood and urine tests on the child.

Many doctors also perform intolerance tests and special blood tests. If needed, special tests include x-rays, endoscopy, computed tomography (CT) scans, and colonoscopy.

When physical causes of pain symptoms above the belly button in a child cannot be determined, the doctor may suspect psychological causes. When the cause is functional pain, parents are often concerned that something very serious is causing the pain. The doctor must provide assurances that these pains, although real, are not serious.

The child's pain must be acknowledged, both by the parents and by the doctors, who will help to strengthen the child's confidence. Symptoms of such pain above the navel can be relieved with mild analgesics.

High-fiber diets may also help. Many medications have been used with varying success, including antispasmodics, as well as peppermint oil, cyproheptadine.

Children are encouraged to carry out their normal duties, particularly attending school, despite the pain. If the stomach pain is related to anxiety about school, then absence from school may only increase the child's anxiety and make the problem worse. Any other sources of stress or anxiety for the child are also carefully considered.

If the causes of anxiety and abdominal pain cannot be eliminated, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants. If the child is very depressed or has significant psychological or mental problems, consultations with a psychiatrist will be needed. And when the psychological problems disappear, the pain above the navel will also stop bothering.

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Treatment of pain above the navel

Treatment will be prescribed according to the diagnosis, medical history, physical examination, test results. Treatment may be as simple as sending the patient home with instructions for rest, proper and sufficient fluid intake, and advice on a light diet.

Treatment for pain above the navel can be extensive, such as hospitalization and surgery.

Some types of abdominal pain require surgical treatment. If the patient's pain increases due to infected internal organs, such as inflammation of the bladder or gallbladder, the person must be admitted to the hospital and surgery will be required.

Bowel obstruction sometimes requires surgery, depending on what is causing the obstruction.

If the patient's pain increases due to ruptured or deformed organs such as the intestines and stomach, he will need immediate surgery.