What is the sign of abdominal pain around the navel in a child?

Perinatal abdominal pain in children can represent a wide range of conditions from mild (digestive disorders) to more serious illnesses such as blood clots or appendicitis.

Do you notice that your baby is uncomfortable around his navel with signs of fever, vomiting, indigestion and wondering what are these symptoms? Actually, there are many causes of this situation. In the following article, aFamilyToday Health will introduce 8 culprits that can cause abdominal pain around the navel in children to appear.

Causes of abdominal pain around the navel in children

There are many reasons why your baby has abdominal pain around the navel, such as:

1. Inflammation of the stomach and intestines

Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the digestive tract. You may have heard it by the name stomach flu. It can be caused by a viral, bacterial or parasitic infection. In addition to the abdominal pain around the navel, the child may also experience the following symptoms:

Fever

Diarrhea

The skin is sweaty

Nausea or vomiting

Gastroenteritis usually does not require medical treatment. Symptoms should go away on their own within a few days. Another complication, however, is dehydration that can affect a child's health. Therefore, your baby needs special care.

2. Children with appendicitis

Abdominal pain around the navel in children is also representative of appendicitis . Initially, the pain will only appear in the navel area and eventually spread to the lower right abdomen. Additional symptoms that may appear include:

Fever

Flat stomach

Not good

Nausea or vomiting

Gastrointestinal disturbances , such as constipation or diarrhea

The pain gets worse when the baby coughs or performs some movement.

Appendicitis is an emergency condition. If not treated quickly, your baby's appendix can rupture, causing potentially life-threatening complications. Your child will need to have appendectomy and rest time to regain health.

3. Stomach ulcers in children

A stomach ulcer is a type of pain that can form in the stomach or small intestine (duodenum). It has many causes, such as a helicobacter pylori infection, and young children use medicines such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin ) or aspirin for a long time. Stomach ulcers can cause perineal abdominal pain in young children, and sometimes the pain can spread to the sternum.

Some of the other symptoms of the disease include:

Belching

Not good

Feeling tired

Nausea or vomiting.

Talk to your doctor about the right treatment for your child's peptic ulcer. Some of the medications that may be used for this condition include:

Proton pump inhibitors

Histamine receptor blockers

Protective substances, such as sucralfate (Carafate).

4. Children with acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis  can cause pain around the navel in some cases. Causes of inflammation, use of certain drugs ... In addition to abdominal pain, symptoms of pancreatitis can include: nausea and vomiting, high heart rate .

Mild pancreatitis is often treated with rest, intravenous fluids, and pain relievers. For more severe cases, your baby will likely need to be hospitalized and take the necessary medical measures.

5. Umbilical hernia in children

An umbilical hernia is a bulging abdominal tissue through a hole in the abdominal muscles around your navel. Umbilical hernia usually occurs in infants, but they can also occur in older babies. When a child has it, an umbilical hernia causes abdominal pain around the navel in the child or at the site of the hernia. You may notice a bulging abdomen with swelling.

In babies, most umbilical hernia will heal by itself by age 2. In addition, your baby may need surgery to prevent intestinal obstruction.

6. Children with small intestinal obstruction

Small bowel obstruction is an obstruction of part or all of a child's small intestine. This can prevent food from getting into the digestive tract. If left untreated, the disease can turn severely. There are several possible causes of small bowel obstruction , including:

Infection

Herniation

Tumor

Inflammatory bowel disease

Scar tissue times from previous abdominal surgery

In addition to abdominal pain around the navel in babies, babies may also have conditions such as:

Fever

Increased heart rate

Nausea and vomiting

Flatulence in the abdomen

Dehydration

Not good

Severe constipation

If your baby has an obstruction, he or she will need to be hospitalized. Your doctor may prescribe intravenous methods and medications to relieve nausea. Intestinal decompression is a procedure that helps to reduce pressure in the intestines, if needed.

7. Aneurysm of the aorta

Aneurysm is a serious condition caused by weakening or bulging of the aortic wall, which is potentially life-threatening if the aorta bursts, causing blood to flow into the internal organs. When the aorta is enlarged, you will notice abdominal pain around the navel in young children with the baby being very uncomfortable.

Other symptoms your baby will experience include:

Shortness of breath

Low blood pressure

Increased heart rate

Fainting

Sudden weakness on one side of the body.

Once the exact cause is diagnosed, your doctor can prescribe surgery to prevent other bad complications from developing.

8. The child is anemic

Ischemia occurs when blood flow is interrupted, usually caused by a blood clot or an embolism. If they do, they will feel pain in the area around the navel. As the condition progresses, the baby may also experience signs such as an elevated heart rate, blood in the stool. If you suspect that your child is suffering from this disease, take him or her to the hospital immediately. Treatment options may include surgery and anticoagulant treatment.

When should you take your baby to the doctor?

If the abdominal pain around the navel in a child persists for more than a few days, you should consult a doctor to determine the cause. See a doctor right away if your baby exhibits any of the following symptoms in addition to abdominal pain:

Fever

Jaundice

Severe abdominal pain

Blood in the stool

Weight loss for unknown reasons

Nausea and vomiting do not go away

Swelling or pain in the lower abdomen.

Diagnosis of perineal abdominal pain in children

To determine the cause, the doctor will first review the baby's medical history and perform a physical exam. Depending on the assessment, your child may do a few additional tests, such as:

Blood test to evaluate blood cell counts and electrolyte levels

Urine analysis to rule out urinary tract infection (UTI) or kidney stones

Take a stool sample to check for pathogens

Imaging tests, such as X-rays or CT scans, to help visualize your baby's organs.

There are many causes of abdominal pain around the navel in children, but whatever reason you should not take it lightly, take your child to the doctor to avoid a bad situation.

Please refer to the article " How to make a baby with a stomachache feel better? "For more information when your baby has colic!