Navel pain, what can it be?

There are several causes for pain that is located in the navel area, mainly due to intestinal changes, ranging from gas distension, worms contamination, to diseases that cause abdominal infection or inflammation, such as gastroenteritis, appendicitis, irritable bowel or intestinal obstruction, for example.

Pain in the navel can also happen due to the irradiation of pain from other organs in the abdomen, due to situations such as pancreatitis and cholecystitis, or even changes caused in pregnancy, and, in addition, it can manifest in different ways, such as colic, prickly, persistent or accompanied by other symptoms, such as vomiting, sweating and pallor.

Thus, in order to better differentiate the possible causes of pain in this region, it is important to undergo an evaluation by the general practitioner or gastroenterologist, who can differentiate between the main causes:

1. Umbilical hernia

The hernia is a cause of pain that arises and is located directly in the navel, and happens when a part of the intestine or other abdominal organ passes the lining of the abdomen and accumulates between the muscles and skin of the region.

Usually, the pain arises or worsens when making efforts, such as coughing or carrying weight, but it can be persistent or become intense when there is a strangulation of the tissues located in the hernia, with intense local inflammation.

What to do: The hernia treatment is guided by the general surgeon, which can be from observation, since in some cases it can regress on its own, or surgery for correction. Better understand what it is and how to treat umbilical hernia.

2. Constipation

Constipation is an important cause of abdominal pain in the navel area, as it is common for the distention of the intestine caused by the accumulated gases or feces to stimulate the nerves that pass through the region.

What to do: avoid constipation, with a diet rich in fiber, present in vegetables and grains, in addition to hydrating yourself with at least 2 liters of water per day, are important to maintain a balanced intestinal rhythm and without cause abdominal swelling. Laxative medications, such as Lactulose, can be guided by the general practitioner, if it is difficult to improve. Check out some tips to combat constipation.

3. Pregnancy

Pregnant women may experience pain or discomfort in the navel at any time during pregnancy, which is usually normal and happens because the growth of the belly distends the fibrous ligament of the abdomen that inserts into the navel, a situation that weakens the navel wall and can cause an umbilical hernia.

In addition, compression and distention of the uterus and other abdominal organs can stimulate nerves in the region and cause the sensation of pain in the navel, being more intense in late pregnancy.

What to do: if the pain is mild or bearable, it is only possible to observe it, as it tends to disappear on its own, but if it is difficult to bear, the obstetrician may indicate the use of analgesics, such as Paracetamol. In addition, signs of redness, swelling or discharge in the navel should be noted, which may indicate an infection or if the pain becomes severe. Understand better about the possible causes of navel pain in pregnancy and what to do.

4. Gastroenteritis

Diarrhea due to gastroenteritis or food poisoning, for example, can be accompanied by pain around the navel, although it can appear in any region of the abdomen, due to the inflammation that arises in this situation.

Pain can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and fever, lasting on average 3 to 7 days.

What to do: you should prefer a light diet, easy to digest, with little fat and grains, in addition to staying hydrated with water, teas and juice. Analgesic and anti-spasmodic medications, such as Dipyrone and Hyoscine, can be used to relieve pain, but if symptoms become severe, last for more than 1 week or accompanied by bleeding or fever above 39ºC, it is important to go to the emergency room for a medical evaluation.

Check out some tips from the nutritionist to make diarrhea go faster:

5. Appendicitis

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small attachment that is attached to the large intestine, which initially causes pain around the navel and migrates to the lower right region of the abdomen, becoming more intense after a few hours. This inflammation is also accompanied by nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and fever, in addition to the characteristic worsening of pain with abdominal decompression, after tightening and releasing specific points in the abdomen.

What to do: in the presence of symptoms indicating this disease, it is necessary to go to the emergency room for the doctor to make an assessment and make the correct diagnosis. If confirmed, the treatment of this disease is done through surgery and the use of antibiotics. Better understand how to identify and treat appendicitis.

6. Cholecystitis

It is the inflammation of the gallbladder, which usually happens due to the accumulation of stones that prevent the bile out, and causes abdominal pain and vomiting, which worsen after eating. Most of the time, pain occurs in the upper right region of the abdomen, but it can also be felt in the navel and radiate to the back.

What to do: in the case of symptoms that indicate this inflammation, it is important to go to the emergency room for medical evaluation and tests. Treatment is indicated by the doctor, and can be done with antibiotics, changes in diet, hydration through the vein and surgery to remove the gallbladder.

7. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

This disease is characterized by abdominal pain that improves after bowel movement, and is more common in the lower part of the belly, but it can vary and appear in any region. It is often associated with bloating, intestinal gas and alternating bowel habits between diarrhea and constipation.

What to do: the confirmation of this syndrome is made by the gastroenterologist, who can guide the treatment with the use of analgesic and antispasmodic drugs to relieve pain, simethicone for gas reduction, laxatives for periods of constipation and fibers and antidiarrheals for periods of diarrhea. It is common for this disease to arise in anxious people, and it is recommended to seek psychological support and reduce stress. Find out if it is and how to treat irritable bowel syndrome.

8. Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a severe inflammation of the pancreas, the main organ responsible for digesting nutrients in the intestine, which causes severe pain in the central region of the abdomen, which can radiate to the back and be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and fever.

It can be acute, in which these symptoms are more evident, or chronic, when the pain is milder, persistent, and there are changes in the absorption of food. As pancreatitis can become severe in the presence of these symptoms, medical attention should be sought immediately.

What to do: in case of symptoms that indicate pancreatitis, a medical evaluation is necessary, which can confirm the presence of this disease, and indicate the correct treatment, with restrictions in the diet, hydration in the vein and antibiotic and analgesic medications. Only in severe cases and with complications, such as perforation, can a surgical procedure be indicated. Better understand how to identify and treat acute and chronic pancreatitis.

9. Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease, characterized by Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, is the chronic inflammation of the lining of the intestines, of autoimmune cause. Some of the symptoms that these diseases can cause include abdominal pain, which can appear anywhere, although it is more common in the lower abdomen, diarrhea and intestinal bleeding.

What to do: The treatment of this disease is guided by the gastroenterologist, with medicines to relieve pain and to calm inflammation and diarrhea. In the most severe cases, surgical intervention may be indicated in order to remove portions of the intestine that may have been affected and damaged by the disease. Better understand what is Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

10. Intestinal ischemia

Changes in blood flow to the intestine, caused by diseases such as acute, chronic ischemic disease or venous thrombosis, for example, cause abdominal pain, which can be located in the navel, due to inflammation and tissue death due to the absence of blood, and which it can be sudden or persistent, depending on the cause and the affected blood vessel.

This situation can arise due to atherosclerosis of the intestinal blood vessels, or by other situations such as spasm of the vessels, sudden drop in pressure, heart failure, intestinal cancer or side effects due to the use of drugs, for example.

What to do: the treatment of intestinal ischemia depends on its cause, guided by the gastroenterologist, usually with food control and use of analgesic remedies, and the use of drugs to dissolve the clot, to improve blood flow or surgery, may be indicated. for removing clots or the inflamed part of the intestine.

Other possible causes of navel pain

In addition to the main causes, navel pain can also be caused by less common situations, such as:

• Infection with worms, which can cause inflammation and bloating, and cause umbilical pain or elsewhere in the abdomen; Abdominal tumor, which can distend or compress organs in the region; Gastric ulcer, which causes intense inflammation; Urinary tract infection, which, although it usually causes pain in the lower abdomen, can cause irritation of nerves close to the navel, especially during urination; Stroke inflammation or infection of the abdominal muscles; Intestinal obstruction, by impacted stools, neurological diseases or a tumor; Diverticulitis, which is the inflammation of diverticula, which are sacs caused by the weakening of the intestinal wall, and can cause umbilical pain, although it is more common in the lower left region of the abdomen. Spinal diseases, such as hernia, that can cause pain that radiate to the abdomen and navel.

Thus, due to the large number of possibilities as a cause of pain in the umbilical region, the best solution is to seek the doctor, who will identify the type of pain, the accompanying symptoms, the person's clinical history and physical examination.