The human body consists of a large number of organs. They interact closely with each other. When a failure occurs in one, a person may feel unpleasant sensations. Doctors call them symptoms. They are different. It all depends on the reason. One common symptom is pain. It appears only if there are disorders in the body. In order to get rid of such an unpleasant sensation, it is not enough to take an antispasmodic. These drugs dull the pain for a while, but do not solve the problem as a whole. The main thing is to find out the reason that provoked the appearance of this symptom.
This article will examine what may indicate pain around the navel. In order to avoid serious consequences, it is important to familiarize yourself with the causes of its occurrence. It will also talk about diagnostic methods. However, the main thing is to remember that only a medical professional who has the appropriate qualifications can make a final diagnosis.
Pain as a symptom. What should doctors say?
It should be understood that pain does not occur on their own. It is with this symptom that the body gives alarming signals about violations in a particular organ. It is recommended immediately at the first manifestations of abdominal pain around the navel to go to the clinic. At the doctor’s appointment, it’s important to correctly describe the problem. This will help in the diagnosis. What are the points to focus on? First of all, describe the nature of the pain. It can be aching, sharp, sharp, and so on. After that, specify the location of localization. Do not forget about chronic diseases, if any, and other causes that are contributing factors. It is also important to know the duration of pain spasms and the frequency of their appearance.
Gastrointestinal diseases
The most common causes of pain around the navel are disorders in the digestive system. They can be of a different nature, for example, aching or sharp. The following diseases can provoke the appearance of pain:
- Abdominal migraine. This disease is a type of intestinal dyskinesia. Painful cramps occur both in the navel and in the head. Their duration is different. In some people, discomfort can go away within a few hours, while in others, the pain does not stop for 1-2 days. In most cases, children suffer from this disease. In addition to painful sensations, other symptoms are manifested in patients. Abdominal migraine is accompanied by pallor, severe weakness, diarrhea, nausea, less often vomiting.
- Chronic enteritis. In people with this disease, the small intestines become inflamed. This is what provokes pain around the navel (in both women and men). Patients also feel heaviness after eating, gas formation, loss of appetite, bloating. Pain spasm is most often aching. Even with chronic enteritis, gums may bleed in people, dry skin and brittle nails are observed. In addition to these listed symptoms, health is greatly worsened. As a rule, patients quickly tire, feel dizzy and weak.
- Inversion of the intestines. This disease makes itself felt suddenly. The first and main symptom is acute pain. It is localized in the navel with a shift to the right. After a short period of time, the patient will also feel nausea, compressing cramps in the lower abdomen, gas formation. It is worth noting that some people may even begin vomiting. There is no point in fighting this disease only with painkillers, as they bring short-term relief, after which the unpleasant sensations return.
- Small intestine cancer. The most serious and even dangerous cause of abdominal pain around the navel. The mere word "cancer" already indicates fatal consequences. Naturally, with such diseases, jokes are bad, as they can lead to the death of a person. Most often, neoplasms are diagnosed as benign, but also malignant. In the first case, the patient’s life is not in danger. The main thing is to seek help in time. With malignant tumors, do not hesitate. Doctors say that in the early stages, treatment started significantly increases the chances of recovery. In addition to painful cramps, there may be other symptoms: loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, sudden weight loss.
Umbilical hernia
A fairly common disease is an umbilical hernia. It can appear both in children and in adults (men and women). Pain around the navel is not the only symptom of this disease. In addition to sharp spasms in people with pathology, constipation, nausea, and severe gas formation are observed. You can notice the umbilical hernia on your own when examining the abdomen. It manifests itself in the form of a protruding formation, can be either oblong or round. In the early stages, it is small. But after a certain time, the hernia may increase. And this will lead to not the most pleasant consequences. Doctors categorically prohibit self-medication, since such a disease can affect not only human health, but also become a threat to life.
Appendicitis
Sharp pain around the navel in men, women and children can occur with acute appendicitis. At the initial stage of the disease, discomfort occurs in the abdomen, and in different places. However, after some time, the pain concentrates in the lower right side. With appendicitis, the temperature can also increase, palpitations become frequent, dry mouth appears. If such symptoms are observed, then you can check the diagnosis yourself. To do this, fingers need to press on the lower abdomen on the right side. If the pain begins to intensify, then you must immediately call an ambulance team. It is also worth noting that with appendicitis, vomiting may begin. This clearly indicates that an operation is urgently needed, otherwise the consequences will be very deplorable.
Diverticulosis
Aching pain around the navel can provoke diverticulosis. With this disease, the mucous membrane cuts out the walls of the intestine, due to which the navel increases in size, strongly protrudes. In shape, it resembles an inflated ball. The navel area is quite painful. With this disease, there is often an increase in temperature.
Diverticulosis can lead to serious consequences. They include purulent complications. Abscesses lead to the development of peritonitis. In some cases, an internal or external fistula is formed. Also, patients may open bleeding. It is determined by the presence of blood in the feces.
Diverticulosis responds well to treatment if you consult a doctor in the early stages. However, if symptoms are ignored for a long time, complications develop that pose a threat to life.
Pancreatitis
Many men and women often ask the same question: “Why do the pains around the navel appear? What exactly provokes them? ” We have already talked about several diseases that can lead to a similar problem. But this is not all the reasons. One of them is pancreatitis. When the disease takes a chronic form, abdominal pains are localized precisely in the navel. Their lack of enzymes, which the pancreas should produce, provokes them. Their lack in the intestines leads to diarrhea.
By and large, treatment for pancreatitis is simple. The doctor prescribes enzymatic medicines. These drugs are designed to break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Patients are strictly forbidden to drink alcohol. They also need to adhere to a strict diet in order to avoid a recurrence.
Crohn's disease
If there is pain around the navel in a child of 12-18 years old, then Crohn's disease can provoke it. This disease is practically not found in adults. Has a pronounced symptomatology. It includes loose stools, often with bloody discharge, sharp pain in the intestines, bloating, cramping in the joints. At risk are boys. Crohn's disease is diagnosed in them more often than in girls.
Pain in pregnant women
Often, pregnant women complain of pain in the navel. As a rule, it can be cutting or blunt. There are many factors that cause such problems. Let's look at some of the causes of pain around the navel in women in position.
Sometimes painful sensations appear due to sprain of the liver. When the fetus grows, the uterus grows accordingly. This leads to the fact that the organs located nearby are slightly shifted. And this, in turn, causes unpleasant painful cramps.
Also at risk are those women who have poorly developed abdominal muscles. In this case, an umbilical hernia may appear. In most cases, after childbirth, everything returns to normal without treatment. However, in the last stages of pregnancy, it is necessary to wear a special belt (bandage). But it is impossible to ignore this problem at all. If a woman during this period feels symptoms such as a rapid pulse, severe nausea and constipation, it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately.
Sometimes pain around the navel in pregnant women can occur due to intestinal infection. In this case, the spasm will be cramping. This pathology is accompanied not only by pain, but also by diarrhea, nausea, and also an increase in temperature. In no case should you hesitate with treatment, since an intestinal infection can become a threat to the baby's life.
Pain in children
Severe pain in the navel can occur not only in adults, but also in children, and of different ages. For example, in infants, an umbilical hernia is often diagnosed. She appears due to prolonged crying. It is better for parents to prevent the development of this pathology than to deal with its consequences later.
In addition, intestinal parasites can provoke pain around the navel. Given that babies are constantly pulling all objects in their mouths, helminth infections are diagnosed in them more often than in adults. With such a pathology, the child will be quite restless, will not be able to fully get enough sleep. Also, his appetite will deteriorate, which will lead to weight loss.
Psychogenic pain should not be ruled out. They can appear in children from 5 years. For example, at this age they often copy the behavior of adults, so they can really feel cramps. To deal with such a problem is very difficult. The treatment is done by psychiatrists or psychotherapists.
Diagnostics
As can be seen from the information presented above, there are a lot of reasons that can cause abdominal pain. They are all quite different. Some of them pose a danger to the patient's life. Therefore, it is important not to delay a visit to the doctor, since this symptom can indicate 20-30 different diseases.
Making the right diagnosis will be difficult. At the first appointment, the doctor will conduct an examination and listen to the patient's complaints. Based on this information, a series of analyzes will be prescribed. If this does not help determine the cause of the onset of pain, then you will need to do an additional examination (irrigoscopy, ultrasound, colonoscopy).
Conclusion
It is important to remember that pain near the navel is an alarming symptom that can indicate the development of a serious illness. At the initial stage, it is recommended to closely monitor the patient's condition. In no case should you self-medicate or take packs of painkillers. All the same, this will not eliminate the problem, but even, on the contrary, will cause complications. Therefore, at the first manifestation of pain, you should immediately be poisoned at the doctor's appointment.