Does a bulging belly button indicate hernia?
Patient: My son (28 mo) was seen Wednesday of last week because he was wheezing from a cough he s had for 3 weeks. I was told he was wheezing and had bronchitis and needed to be treated with albuteral. He s been taking the albuteral since last Wednesday and he s not better. During our visit I told the doctor that his tummy hurt- he complains everyday that it hurts. She didn t check it so I finally did yesterday because he wa crying and I think he has a hernia. The area next to his belly button is bulging and he points to it saying it hurts. Can I wait until the morning or should I take him to the ER? Thanks in advance! Doctor: welcome to HCM. As you son sufferred wheeze recently, it could be associated with cough, there is likely chances that he  would have developed hernia due to cough (Increased abdominal pressure ). Just check out weather the swelling bulges out or increases in size on coughing...as your child is complaining of pain and swelling its better you visit Er as early as possible. only by physical examination one can tell its  hernia or not as the location is near to belley button.