4 year old with pain above willy but below belly button

[Heywoods]

Since he got home from nursery about 4pm he’s been complaining of pain in the area I’ve shown in the diagram. And is now laying on the sofa refusing to get up as he says it hurts when he walks.

Any ideas?

I'd ring, dont worry about what words to use..
I'm thinking Appendix would be constant pain, not just when he walks?
My DS1 had a hernia there when he was little, best to double check.

Well, yes, although personally I'd use the correct terms (penis and navel).

That's great, I just used OPs words. I'm sure the medical professionals would be able to understand.

I know the value of teaching children the correct words for their body parts, but a thread where a parent is worried about their unwell child isn't the place to attempt to teach it.

Of course. Just sharing what I would say.

I would write down where he says it hurts (just so I can remember if needed later) and then give calpol and warm bath. If the pain is so excruciating he can’t possibly walk to the bathroom, then of course A&E. You will get the measure of whether it’s just a minor tummy issue or something a bit more serious when you ask him to move.

Please take him to a&e
We have friends who's son said his tummy hurt, they gave calpol, within an hour he was screaming, his mum called an ambulance as dad was at work with the car and they took him to hospital it was a burst appendix. Please don't leave it overnight - I hope he's ok x

If we’re playing “who knows the most medical words” it’s “umbilicus” not “navel”.

I’m sure 111 will understand what a belly button is though.

Definitely ring 111. You explained on here where the pain was

@Anonymous48

Of course. Just sharing what I would say.

How utterly unhelpful of you.

Take him to A&E. Increased pain when walking is one of the symptoms of appendicitis.

My son complained of pain there and we spent a week checking appendix, thinking he had allergies and he had epididymitis. Infection of the tube that does to the testicles. After some antibiotics it cleared up

Just call 111! They’ll guide you and prob send a paramedic out. Last one we had was in a jeep, and ended up taking DD to the kids hospital after assessment.
at that age they are pretty much going to ask you to come to a NHS out of hours or the kids A&E or to paeds if they aren’t happy all is ok

I'd ring 111 too. Hope you get seen and your son feels better soon x

I’d ring 111 and get seen, just incase it’s a testicular torsion. Hopefully something simple like trapped wind but can never be too careful!

Take him to a doctor. Poor lad.
Hoping it is just wind and he can be back to his usual self soon.

My 5 year old had this last year - sudden onset, got progressively worse and couldn’t walk as it hurt.
Started around 5pm, at midnight he was having emergency surgery for testicular torsion.
please get some real medical advice for him.

Ds was seen by doctor as he had same pain in exactly the same place was written off as a uti and sent home with antibiotics, 2 days later one of his testicle had swollen double the size and he could barely move because of the pain, trip to A&E and diagnosed with a testicular appendage.

Appendix pain often starts on the middle, then radiates to the side. My Son had this, and it was almost missed by myself and the School. He only just made it to theatre in time.

Please get him checked out asap.

Agree. My DD was the same.

If it hurts so much that he doesn't want to walk, I would call 111.

Sorry I haven’t replied to these.

We gave him some kids nurofen and he had three trips to the toilet - all quite loose poos.

Anyway since then, he’s seemingly fine (fingers crossed) he’s been running around, jumping up and down on the sofa and climbing all over his dad’s back.
I’m assuming it’s either the nurofen or the poos that have helped (or both). He’s asleep now after his usual bedtime bath and story routine, he fell asleep quite quickly, so I’m hoping that’s a good sign, he wasn’t writhing around in pain or anything.
Will monitor and see what he’s like in the morning.

Just seen this op. My son had this and it was balanitis. It can come on quite quickly and get very painful really fast. He couldn't walk from the pain and had to go to a and e as gp and urgent care was closed.

@abbs1 thanks, I just updated above he seems to be okay now after nurofen and emptying his bowels. But fingers crossed it’s nothing too bad.

My DS had similar pain and was diagnosed with hernia.

@Halfling what do they do for a hernia?

Appendix pain usually starts centrally where you describe it and moves to right front side. Could also be trapped wind or constipation but if it doesn't dissipate call 111

Update:

He's fine this morning, just his usual silly self. Major chatterbox.

I guess it was trapped wind/something that hadn’t agreed with his tummy that had to come out in his quite loose poo last night.