A five-year-old child who was recently admitted to a nursery class in a private school was brought to my clinic by his mother for abdominal pain, there was no relevant history except daily daytime abdominal pain.
While examining his abdomen I noticed that he was wearing a very tight pant at his waist, when asked his mother why she bought such an undersized pant, she replied that the private school where he got admitted supply the “uniform” from their own school store!
The child was declared normal after certain tests to the satisfaction of the mother including ultrasound of abdomen, which was within normal range, it was advised to change the pant to proper size preferably a bit loose at the waist.
“Tight belt syndrome” is a known medical condition which is often overlooked, it is not limited to school going children but most of the adults are also into the habit of wearing tight belts around their waists or tight “azar band”()or tight elastic while wearing shalwar.
Tight Belt Syndrome, is an often-overlooked condition arising from the chronic compression of abdominal nerves due to consistently wearing tight belts or restrictive clothing.
The syndrome manifests as persistent abdominal pain, typically localized around the waistline, which can mimic more serious gastrointestinal or musculoskeletal disorders.
Patients may experience a sharp, stabbing pain that intensifies with movement or prolonged sitting, and relief is often found by loosening the belt or switching to less restrictive clothing.
Diagnosis can be challenging, as the symptoms are nonspecific and can resemble other abdominal conditions. A careful patient history focusing on clothing habits, alongside physical examination and necessary tests to exclude any abdominal pathology.
Treatment primarily involves lifestyle modifications, such as avoiding tight belts and opting for looser clothing.
Awareness of Tight Belt Syndrome is crucial for both patients and healthcare providers to prevent misdiagnosis and ensure effective management of this preventable problem.
- Dr. Munawar Aziz
Abbottabad, Pakistan.
aziz.munawar@gmail.com
