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What Does Hardness In The Navel Area Indicate?

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Posted on Sun, 5 Apr 2015
Twitter Sun, 5 Apr 2015 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 4 May 2015 Last reviewed on
Question : my 95 year old mother has a hardness around her navel. She says it comes and goes. She had a checkup about a month ago. Blood work showed low iron, urine tests were negative for bacteria. For about the last six weeks, she wakes several times a night to urinate. She rarely woke at night previous to this. For the past few days, she has been sleeping excessively. She does not feel feverish to herself or to the touch, but her temperature was 101 yesterday and fell to 98.6 this morning, but XXXXXXX to 101 this afternoon. Is appendicitis indicated? Is it safe to wait until Monday for an ultra-sound? She does not wish to leave the house (being so tired).
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Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Urinary tract infection

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

Gaseous distention of the abdomen can cause transient hardness around the navel.
From the history given it looks like she might be suffering from a urinary tract infection, UTI is known to cause frequent urination and also drowsiness with excessive sleep in the elderly.
Here are my suggestions


1. I would prefer her to be on an antibiotic right away, I usually prescribe Ciproflox twice a day for a week after sending for urine culture
2. It does not sound like appendicitits, patients will have severe pain abdomen and vomiting in appendicitis
3. If you are unable to reach a hospital at the earliest, please make sure that she is always supervised, never feed her in sleeping position, always keep the head end slightly elevated and also make sure she does not walk around on her own


I hope I was of help, if you have any further queries please get back to me

Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha

Nephrologist

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 4364 Questions

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What Does Hardness In The Navel Area Indicate?

Brief Answer: Urinary tract infection Detailed Answer: Hello Thanks for the query Gaseous distention of the abdomen can cause transient hardness around the navel. From the history given it looks like she might be suffering from a urinary tract infection, UTI is known to cause frequent urination and also drowsiness with excessive sleep in the elderly. Here are my suggestions 1. I would prefer her to be on an antibiotic right away, I usually prescribe Ciproflox twice a day for a week after sending for urine culture 2. It does not sound like appendicitits, patients will have severe pain abdomen and vomiting in appendicitis 3. If you are unable to reach a hospital at the earliest, please make sure that she is always supervised, never feed her in sleeping position, always keep the head end slightly elevated and also make sure she does not walk around on her own I hope I was of help, if you have any further queries please get back to me Regards