Belly button pain, or periumbilical pain, is discomfort around the navel. The umbilical region houses parts of the stomach, small and large intestines, and the pancreas. Pain in this area can stem from various organs.
Common Digestive and Muscular Causes
Pain around the belly button often originates from common digestive issues. Gas and indigestion (dyspepsia) are frequent culprits, causing discomfort from pressure within the digestive tract. This pain may be accompanied by bloating. Constipation can also lead to periumbilical pain as accumulated stool and gas distend the intestines. Increasing fiber and fluid intake often helps alleviate this discomfort.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is another common condition causing abdominal pain, including around the belly button. IBS involves cramping, bloating, and changes in bowel habits, such as alternating diarrhea and constipation. The pain may improve following a bowel movement.
Physical strain can also result in pain near the navel. Abdominal muscle strain, often from heavy lifting or intense exercise, can cause localized soreness or a sharp pulling sensation. This muscular pain typically feels achy and can be aggravated by movement, coughing, or straining.
Abdominal Wall and Organ-Related Causes
More specific causes of belly button pain involve issues with the abdominal wall or internal organs. An umbilical hernia occurs when tissue or an organ, such as the intestine, pushes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles around the navel, creating a bulge. This can cause pain, pressure, or a pulling sensation that may worsen with straining, coughing, or lifting. An incarcerated hernia, a serious complication, occurs when trapped tissue loses its blood supply, leading to severe pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Appendicitis, an inflammation of the appendix, often begins with pain around the navel before migrating to the lower right abdomen. This initial periumbilical pain can be a dull ache or cramping. Atypical presentations can occur where the pain remains near the navel or presents in other areas. Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease, can also cause persistent abdominal pain, including around the belly button, due to intestinal inflammation.
Diverticulitis, characterized by inflamed pouches in the colon, commonly causes lower abdominal pain that can radiate to the navel. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) primarily cause lower abdominal pain but can also lead to referred pain near the belly button, especially during urination. Gallstones, hardened deposits in the gallbladder, can cause sudden, intense pain in the upper right or center of the abdomen, which may radiate to the area above the belly button.
Pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, causes intense abdominal pain that often radiates to the middle of the abdomen or around the belly button. Abdominal adhesions, bands of scar tissue between abdominal organs, can cause chronic pain around the belly button. These adhesions, often from previous abdominal surgery or inflammation, can twist or pull on organs, leading to cramping, bloating, and sometimes bowel obstruction.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While many causes of belly button pain are minor, certain symptoms signal a need for prompt medical evaluation. Severe or rapidly worsening pain, especially if it leaves an individual doubled over, is a warning sign. Pain accompanied by a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher suggests an infection. Persistent nausea and vomiting, particularly if it prevents keeping down food or fluids, can indicate a more serious condition like a bowel obstruction or appendicitis.
Other symptoms include blood in the stool or vomit, which can point to gastrointestinal bleeding. The inability to pass gas or stool, alongside abdominal pain, suggests a potential bowel obstruction, a medical emergency. Abdominal swelling or tenderness to the touch, especially with a firm or discolored bulge near the navel, warrants immediate attention, as this could indicate a complicated hernia. Any persistent, unexplained belly button pain, or pain accompanied by these concerning symptoms, should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.