If your stomach often hurts below the belly button, you should definitely be examined. It is highly discouraged to engage in self-diagnosis, as it is possible to start the disease, as a result of which the treatment will be long and difficult. The article presents for familiarization the most common reasons why a stomach below the navel in women, men and children can hurt, as well as ways to treat certain pathologies and conditions.
List of most likely causes
For an accurate diagnosis, you must go through the necessary studies. But you can select a list of the most common reasons why the stomach hurts below the navel:
- intestinal obstruction;
- parasitic infestations;
- premenstrual pain;
- diverticulosis;
- tumors and polyps;
- intestinal infections.
In each individual case, the treatment will be different. You cannot diagnose yourself on the Internet and try to self-medicate. Modern methods for diagnosing intestinal diseases are simple and painless - if you have a medical insurance policy on hand, you can go through them for free.
Intestinal obstruction: causes and treatment
One of the most severe conditions is obstruction of the small intestine. Blockage can occur due to fecal stones, tumors, polyps, parasites, etc. If you do not provide a person with professional medical help on time, he may die.
If there is a suspicion of intestinal obstruction, then you need to immediately call an ambulance. The main symptoms of the condition: severe pain in the navel, lack of feces for several days. Patients complain that the abdomen is very sore below the navel, sometimes the dislocation of pain is in the area of the solar plexus.
Parasitic infestations: how to get rid of the "settlers"?
Parasites, according to medical statistics, are present in the body of approximately 70% of the world's population. They can be infected if it is bad to wash vegetables and fruits, to dig with unprotected hands in the soil, to stroke animals, not to wash their hands on time, as well as in many everyday situations. Most often diagnosed with helminthic infestations, enterobiasis, ascariasis. In order to accurately determine the type of parasites, an examination should be done.
To get rid of parasites, the following drugs are usually used:
- Vermox;
- Dekaris
- "Pirantel".
You can’t take them yourself, since each of them has a number of side effects and contraindications. In order to determine which particular drug will be effective, you need to know exactly what type of parasites triggered the malaise.
The most common symptoms of parasitic infestations:
- weight loss even with plentiful food;
- a stomach ache below the navel;
- belching and nausea both after eating and on an empty stomach;
- bitter taste in the mouth;
- weakness, apathy, low working capacity.
Diverticulosis: symptoms, causes of development and treatment methods
The disease develops in the sigmoid colon. It is characterized by a certain "protrusion" of the navel. Patients complain that their stomach hurts just below the navel. In parallel, constipation is observed, sometimes it is possible to release blood with feces. Some patients with diverticulosis complain that the stomach hurts on the left below the navel. It is important to seek medical help on time and exclude the development of appendicitis.
The formation of a diverticulum is possible in all departments of the gastrointestinal tract. A person enters a medical institution with complaints of pain in the lower left or lower abdomen. Diverticulosis, as a rule, can easily be confused with symptoms of appendicitis or infection, the disease is accompanied by fever, severe weakness, a marked decrease in performance.
The threat of the development of tumors of various nature
The reason that the stomach hurts in the navel and below may be tumors and polyps. This condition requires professional diagnosis. It is almost impossible to grope or somehow determine the presence of a neoplasm.
The causes of the appearance of tumors are various, sometimes it is impossible to determine them with accuracy. This can be both a hereditary predisposition, and the consequences of malnutrition and alcohol abuse. There is a theory that some types of parasites can also contribute to the appearance of neoplasms in the intestine.
Intestinal polyps are called initially benign neoplasms, consisting of epithelial glandular cells, attached to its walls with a leg or a wide base and protruding into the intestinal lumen. They can form in various parts of the colon.
Intestinal infections: causes and treatment
As a rule, they cause pain in the navel in children. However, adults can also suffer from intestinal infections. The most common cause is malnutrition. For adults, this is alcohol abuse, eating stale salads and snacks. For children - eating with dirty hands, as well as eating expired products.
Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of medical personnel. If there is a high temperature, you should call an ambulance. As a rule, the symptoms are accompanied not only by pain in the epigastric region, but also by nausea, diarrhea, severe weakness, and loss of working capacity.
For treatment, antibacterial drugs are used, as well as drugs that normalize the intestinal microflora, expelling pathogenic microorganisms. Also, "Enterosgel" and preparations with activated carbon in the composition are often used as therapy.
Colitis in men as a cause of pain in the region below the navel
Nonspecific ulcerative colitis is another common cause of lower abdominal pain. It is diagnosed more often in men than in women. The clinical picture of the disease is characterized by the presence of sharp, paroxysmal pain, impaired stool. In some cases, bloody discharge during bowel movements, mucus, or a blood flow may occur.
The causes of colitis are the presence of non-healing ulcers on the intestinal mucosa. In order to minimize the manifestations of the disease, you should go to hospital and undergo a full examination. It often happens that in parallel a parasitic infestation or neoplasm is found in a person.
Features of premenstrual pain in women
If the stomach hurts below the navel in women and at the same time menstruation should soon come, then most likely we are talking about premenstrual syndrome.
Typical symptoms of this condition:
- psycho-emotional stress: irritability, fatigue, nervousness, weakness;
- drawing pain in the lower abdomen;
- the discharge stops completely.
Some women experience pain below the navel every month. Such a course of premenstrual syndrome is quite normal, especially for nulliparous. But if the pain is too pronounced, you should contact your treating gynecologist and be examined.
Methods for the treatment of premenstrual pain in women
If no pathologies are found, but the woman has a stomach ache below the navel, then the gynecologist will prescribe antispasmodic drugs. Usually their use is quite enough to minimize symptoms. It:
- Drotaverin is a cheap analogue of No-shpa. The main active ingredient is drotaverine. After taking the pill, the pain goes away after 20-30 minutes completely. For many women, this drug has become indispensable. If it is not available at the pharmacy for some reason, many acquire No-shpu.
- "Spasmol" is another popular antispasmodic that effectively fights premenstrual pain. Available in the form of tablets and a solution for injection. Often, one tablet per day is enough to effectively stop the pain syndrome.
- "Papaverine" is an antispasmodic that is widely used in gynecology. Effective for cramping pains in the lower abdomen. Available in the form of tablets, but more often it is used in the hospital in the form of injections.
Why does the child have a stomach ache below the navel
Only a doctor can identify the exact cause, who will compare the entire complex of symptoms. List of the most common reasons why the stomach hurts below the navel in a child:
- intestinal infections, poisoning, diarrhea;
- appendicitis;
- inflammatory processes of the urinary system;
- umbilical hernia;
- intestinal colic;
- cholecystitis;
- helminthic infestations.
It is important to note during the consultation what the nature of the stool is, whether there is a temperature, whether the child is nauseous, whether there is blood or mucus in the feces or urine. Based on the totality of symptoms, an overall clinical picture can be made, but usually additional tests are also required for this.