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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
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
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
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!
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