Pains above the navel

There are various causes of abdominal pain, in particular, pain above the navel. Abdominal pain above the navel is the most common complaint. There are many circumstances that can cause pain above the navel - each one must be taken into account before the doctor makes an accurate diagnosis.

[1], [2]

Causes of pain above the navel

• Stomach 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 that cause inflammation of the gallbladder
• Duodenal ulcer (inflammation of the small intestine is associated with the stomach)
• Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver)
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, which can cause severe back pain)
• Musculoskeletal stretching

[3], [4], [5]

What does the pain above the navel mean?

Pain above the navel can be pain in the epigastric region. This pain may be associated with indigestion. Persistent pain in this area can be a signal of problems with the upper part of the small intestine, the gallbladder, or even the pancreas.

The sheer number of possible causes of pain above the navel means that abdominal pain can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. Diagnosis is usually done using a blood test, endoscopy, x-rays, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT (computed tomography).

The pains above the navel are associated with internal organs.

Abdominal pain can vary in intensity from mild abdominal pain to severe acute pain. Pain is often non-specific and can be caused by various conditions, since many organs are located in the abdominal cavity, in the navel.

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

Two things that are worth worrying about - if you have abdominal pain due to appendicitis or an ulcer. Inflammation in the abdominal cavity usually begins with pain in the center of the abdomen, around the navel, above the navel, then - loss of appetite, nausea, fever. As the appendicitis progresses, the pain usually moves to the right lower abdomen. A sore organ can rupture and emergency medical care is needed.

Appendicitis pain

Appendicitis is the most common disease of the abdominal cavity, especially among children and young people. One person out of fifteen suffers appendicitis pain. The frequency of appendicitis is highest among boys aged ten to fourteen years old and among girls aged fifteen to nineteen years old.

This disease is rare in older people and children under two years of age. Causes of pain above the navel in appendicitis can occur for several reasons, including infection, inflammation, ulceration, perforation or rupture of organs, muscles that are inconsistent, and blockage of blood flow to organs.

[6], [7], [8]

Appendicitis symptoms

A characteristic symptom of appendicitis is pain that starts near or above the navel. The pain can be severe or relatively mild. This ultimately leads to pain in the lower right corner of the abdomen.

There it becomes more stable and more severe. Any movement or cough makes the pain stronger. The stomach becomes hard to the touch. An increase in these symptoms indicates an increased likelihood of peritonitis.

How to treat the symptoms of abdominal pain above the navel?

Symptoms of pain above the navel can be cured with several drugs. Sometimes activated carbon capsules work best in this case. However, if you are taking antacids, you will soon feel some relief, especially if you have had heartburn and indigestion.

[9], [10]

Pain above the navel in a child

Chronic and recurrent abdominal pain for 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 there may be a physical disorder. Functional abdominal pains are most often vague and localized around or above the navel. Diagnosis is based on symptoms and physical examination.

Pain above the navel in children under 5 years of age who lose weight, who have bleeding or have severe vomiting or diarrhea, is probably caused by a physical disorder.

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

[11], [12], [13]

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, and gastro-esophageal reflux.

[14], [15]

Functional pain in children

Functional pain is the result of stress or anxiety (due to problems at school, at home, or with friends), and not from a basic physical disorder. It looks like a tension headache. The tension headache is a real pain, but there is no underlying physical problem, such as a brain tumor or stroke. Headache is an indicator of how much the body reacts to stress. And instead of experiencing tension headaches, children tend to feel the tension in the stomach.

The pain above the navel can be very serious and usually changes the life of a child. For example, children with such pain often miss school. The exact mechanism of functional abdominal pain is unknown, but many doctors believe that pain occurs when the nerves of the gastrointestinal tract become too sensitive to stimuli (for example, due to expansion or contraction of the intestine), which most children find very uncomfortable. Why these nerves become hypersensitive is unclear, but the pain may be associated with an infection or an allergy suffered before.

There are no obvious factors associated with pain as a child’s response to stress or anxiety. If school is a serious problem, the pain is usually stronger on weekdays and weaker on weekends and during holidays. Children with functional pains may suffer from immaturity, dependence on parents, anxiety or depression, fear, exertion, and makeovers.

Often parents put the child in a special position in the family (for example, an only child, younger child, or they wanted only a boy or only a girl, or a child grows up among a large group of brothers and sisters), or in connection with a medical problem.

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

[16], [17], [18]

Lactose intolerance

Lactose is found in milk and other dairy products. Lactase is an enzyme necessary for the breakdown of lactose. Children who lack lactase cannot digest and absorb lactose, which leads to diarrhea and spastic pain in the abdomen above the navel.

[19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25]

Constipation

Children who do not consume enough fluids often experience constipation. Lack of fluid and fiber in the diet provoke hard stools, which are difficult to leave the body. This can cause discomfort in the abdomen, pain during stool, or end gastroesophageal reflux.

Gastroesophageal reflux in children

This disease causes the reverse movement of food and acid from the stomach into the esophagus, and sometimes into the mouth. Reflux can cause abdominal pain, heartburn and nausea. Some causes become chronic and give an abdominal pain above the navel.

[26], [27], [28], [29]

The nature of pain above the navel

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

Symptom Diagnosis and Examination

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

Many doctors also do tests for intolerance and special blood tests. If necessary, special tests include x-rays, endoscopy, computed tomography (CT) and colonoscopy.

When the physical causes of pain symptoms above the navel in a child cannot be determined, the doctor may suspect psychological causes. When functional pain is the cause, parents are often concerned that the pain causes something very serious. The physician must ensure that these pains are real but not serious.

The child’s pain must be recognized by both the parents and the doctors, who will help build the child’s confidence. Symptoms of such pains above the navel can be eliminated with the help of mild analgesics.

High fiber diets can also help. Many drugs are used with varying success, including antispasmodics, as well as peppermint oil, cyproheptadine.

Children are recommended to perform their normal duties, in particular, attending school, despite the pain. If abdominal pain is associated with anxiety due to school, then absence from school can only increase the anxiety of the child and aggravate the problem. Any other sources of stress or anxiety in the child are also considered very carefully.

If the cause of anxiety and abdominal pain cannot be eliminated, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants. If the child is severely depressed or has significant psychological or mental problems, counseling in the field of psychiatry will be needed. And when the psychological problems disappear, the pain above the navel will also cease to be disturbed.

[30], [31], [32], [33], [34]

Diagnostics of symptoms and inspection

Children with symptoms typical for functional pain do not require special testing. Some of symptoms do not provide ability to accurately diagnose functional pain. These symptoms include weight loss, bleeding, severe vomiting or diarrhea, as well as age under 5. If these factors are present, or cause is unclear, doctors usually do core tests for child - blood and urine.

Many doctors also do tests for intolerance and special blood tests. If necessary, special tests include x-rays, endoscopy, computed tomography (CT) and colonoscopy.

When physical causes of symptoms of pain above navel in child cannot be identified, doctor may suspect psychological cause. When functional pain is cause, parents often worry that pain is something very serious. Physician must provide assurances that, though this pain is real, it is not serious.

Pain of child must be recognized both from part of parents and physicians which helps to strengthen trust of child. Symptoms of pain above navel can be removed by mild analgesics.

Diets with high content of fiber can also help. Many drugs are used with varying success, including antispasmodics and peppermint oil, cyproheptadine.

Children are encouraged to perform their normal duties, in particular, going to school, in spite of pain. If abdominal pain is associated with anxiety because of school, absence from school can only reinforce child's anxiety and make problem worse. Any other sources of stress and anxiety of child are also considered very carefully.

If causes of anxiety and pain in abdomen cannot be removed, doctor may prescribe antidepressants. Consultations with psychiatry are needed, if child is severely depressed or has significant psychological or mental problems. And when psychological problems disappear, pain above navel will also bother no longer.

Treatment of pain above the navel

Treatment will be prescribed in accordance with the diagnosis, medical history, physical examination, test results. Treatment can be simple, for example, in the form of recommendations to send the patient home with instructions for rest, proper and sufficient fluid intake and advice on an easy diet.

Treatment of 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 taken to the hospital and surgery will be required.

Intestinal 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.