Health Medicine Lab

The abdominal region is a complex section of the body comprised of several organs: the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, stomach, spleen and the small and large intestines. Pain in or around the belly button can be indicative of a problem with any one of these organs. The complexity of the region means that any pain around the belly button should result in a thorough medical examination to determine the cause of the pain.

There are several good medical tests that can help to determine the cause of any abdominal discomfort, especially around the navel area. An abdominal ultrasound is one measure, as is an in depth CT scan. With regards to the cause of pain around the navel, there are several causes, discussed below.

Appendicitis, which is inflammation of the appendix, is a condition which, as the name suggests, afflicts the appendix, a largely useless organ located between the small and large intestines. Despite its superfluity, any delay in the treatment of appendicitis can lead to serious problems.

Another inflammation of a stomach organ is cystitis, which affects the bladder. Symptoms include extreme pain around the pelvis, which is of course near to where the bladder is located. One may feel a burning sensation during urination, and blood may even be present in the urine. Again, urgent treatment is necessary to avoid a medical emergency.

Abdominal hernias are another possible cause of navel pain, and this particular ailment is caused when one of the abdominal organs decides to ‘escape’ through the wall of the abdomen. The pain associated with a hernia is sharp rather than dull, and it has several known causes: obesity, stressful exercise, heavy lifting. Even the sharp bodily movements associated with coughing and sneezing can cause a hernia!

Peptic ulcers can cause pain in the belly button, and they have a wide array of causes such as high alcohol and fatty food consumption. Infections caused by parasites such as the helicobacter pylori can also cause peptic ulcers. It is associated with pain behind the belly button, and its consequences include the following symptoms: feeling nauseated, stomach bloating, belching, a loss of appetite and subsequent weight loss and the presence of blood in the stool. Anyone suffering any of these symptoms should seek medical assistance immediately.

Naval pain is also associated with a diseased or infected gallbladder. If the passage of bile out of the gallbladder is obstructed in any way, then the gallbladder can become diseased or infected. Gallbladder stones can also form, causing extreme abdominal pain.

Most of us have suffered from a bout of constipation once or twice in our lives, but chronic constipation is indicative of a much greater problem. A poor diet can lead to constipation and indigestion, but chronic constipation has much more malign effects. The large intestine is the main victim of chronic constipation, as waste material passes slowly through it, sometimes too slowly, resulting in the waste solidifying before the bowel can evacuate.

An inner ear itch can be extremely annoying, and you cannot help but scratch and poke it. This irritating itch can turn into something very painful if it happens to be one of the rare cases where there is a serious problem. An ongoing itch or pain in the ear may be a cause for concern, and should not go untreated. What are the potential causes of itchy inner ears? Many think it is a lack of personal cleanliness or hygene, but in most cases, it is not that simple. It may even be the result of being too clean.

The accumulation of minute dust particles or other tiny debris in the ear is probably the most common cause of inner ear itchiness, but there are a several other possible causes.

Skin Issues – Skin disorders may be the underlying cause of many cases of an itchy inner ear. Disorders of the skin include ailments such as eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, or allergic dermatitis, may be the cause of an itchy inner ear.

Dryness – The presence of earwax may lead to many other problems within the ear, but the habit of cleaning off naturally-occurring earwax will likely lead to dry, itchy ears. When the wax is removed by cleaning, the dead skin flakes caused by the subsequent dryness shed inside the ear canal, often resulting in an itchy inner ear.

Allergic Reactions – An allergy to hearing aids is also a common cause of inner ear itch. The polish on the hearing aid or its mostly-plastic material sometimes trigger an allergic reaction, as do pollutants or dust that may find their way into the ear.

Other Causes – There are several more causes of inner ear itch such as the application of ear drops, an infection, or immersion in chlorinated water. The itching also may be the result of a psychological problem rather than a physical one, as many express anxiety through perceiving a non-existent itch and poking or scratching the ear.

The method employed for the treatment of an inner ear itch is extremely dependent on the itch’s source. If an itch is caused by a lack of earwax, a popular home remedy is to administer drops of vegetable oil into the ears. This will bolster the earwax production that will protect the ear and cease the itch. For those who habitually clean the earwax from their ears, doctors advise creating a cleaning schedule that will help strike a balance between preventing unwanted wax building up and removing too much wax. In the case of skin problems, steroid creams are available by prescription from your doctor that can reduce allergic reactions and relieve itching. In the most serious cases involving trauma or infection, sufferers should seek out proper medical attention. In any case, if you are experiencing a lot of inner ear pain or have a recurring itch, it is advised that you consult an ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist.