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Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
About me
Zhang Xianhua: Master's degree, chief physician, director of the Children's Digestive Neurology Department (Pediatric Seventh Department) of Hunan People's Hospital. Member of the National Professional Committee of Pediatricians of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, member of the Minimally Invasive Professional Committee of the Chinese Maternal and Child Health Association's Pediatric Digestive Minimally Invasive Working Group, deputy director of the Pediatric Digestive Group of the Hunan Pediatric Association, registered nutritionist of the Chinese Nutrition Society, member of the Committee of Allergies and Immune Reactions of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in Hunan Province, expert in the National Science and Technology Expert Database of the Ministry of Science and Technology, expert reviewer in the Medicine and Health Evaluation Expert Database of Hunan Province, member of the Forensic Identification Committee of Hunan Province, member of the Medical Accident Identification Committee of Hunan Province, expert in the Vaccination Identification Committee of Hunan Province. Engaged in pediatric clinical and research teaching for more than twenty years, repeatedly honored as an outstanding medical worker, outstanding Communist Party member, medical ethics model and recipient of awards from the Health Department.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in: diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases in pediatric digestive system, digestive endoscopy technology, and emergency critical care.
Voices
Can infant umbilical hernia heal by itself?
Infant umbilical hernia is caused by a congenitally thin abdominal wall at the navel, which is underdeveloped and leads to a protrusion. 80% of infant umbilical hernias will gradually narrow and even naturally heal as the child ages and grows in stature, requiring no special treatment. Only a small fraction of infants, particularly those with hernia rings larger than 2 cm, or if the hernia has not closed by the age of two, will need surgical treatment. Normally, it is only necessary to ensure that the child avoids crying excessively and to promptly treat any gastrointestinal diseases to prevent an increase in abdominal pressure, causing the hernia to protrude.
Can infant umbilical hernia be treated with hot compresses?
Infant umbilical hernia is caused by congenital underdevelopment of the navel, typically protruding during intense, prolonged crying or increased gastrointestinal gas, which raises abdominal pressure. No special treatment is needed, and heat application is also unnecessary and ineffective. Over 80% of infant umbilical hernias gradually narrow and even close naturally as the child ages and grows physically. Only a small portion of children who still have significant umbilical hernias after the age of two, or those with a hernia ring diameter greater than 2cm, have a low likelihood of natural healing. In these cases, surgical intervention is required.
What will happen if an infant's umbilical hernia is not treated?
Umbilical hernia in infants is considered a congenital developmental disease, caused by the incomplete development of the abdominal wall at the navel, leading to protrusion, especially noticeable when the baby cries or has a cold. Generally, special treatment is not necessary, as about 80% of infants will see the hernial ring gradually decrease in size or even close by the age of two, achieving self-healing without the need for special intervention. However, treatment is required for a small fraction of children whose hernial ring diameter is greater than 2cm, or who still exhibit a noticeable umbilical hernia after the age of two. Without treatment, there is a risk of incarceration, which can also cause abdominal discomfort in the child, poor digestion, and other symptoms.
When does an infant's umbilical hernia require surgery?
Most cases of umbilical hernia in infants do not require surgery, as 80% of infants with an umbilical hernia will see it gradually close as they grow older and their bodies develop. Surgery is only necessary in a small number of children if the hernia is still pronounced after the age of two, or if the hernia ring is too large, exceeding 2 cm in diameter, and cannot heal naturally. Surgery is also required if the hernia becomes incarcerated. In other cases, it is sufficient to prevent the child from crying excessively, avoid prolonged crying, and actively prevent and treat digestive system diseases in children to reduce abdominal pressure and prevent protrusion.
When can an infant's umbilical hernia heal?
Umbilical hernia in infants is caused by a congenitally weaker abdominal wall around the navel, leading to a protruding navel. This protrusion is more likely to occur when a child cries intensely or has indigestion leading to increased gastrointestinal gas and abdominal pressure. Most umbilical hernias do not require special treatment, as up to 80% of children with an umbilical hernia will see the hernia ring narrow and possibly close naturally as they grow and develop physically, particularly before the age of two. It is sufficient to prevent long periods of intense crying and actively manage conditions that increase abdominal pressure, especially those related to the digestive system. If a child still has a noticeable hernia after the age of two, or if the diameter of the hernia ring exceeds 2 cm, it typically will not heal naturally and surgical treatment may be necessary.
What to do if a baby catches a cold?
The baby has caught a cold. Considering that the baby’s organs are not fully developed and their immune response is weak, even a common cold can easily lead to new viral infections or bacterial infections, raising the possibility of severe diseases such as pneumonia. Therefore, when a baby has a cold, it is best to take them to the hospital’s pediatric outpatient clinic for a timely examination and assessment, and to receive active treatment based on the cause. If it is inconvenient to visit the clinic, since most colds are caused by viruses such as respiratory or enteric viruses, you could consider taking some antiviral traditional Chinese medicine at home, as well as some symptomatic treatment medications targeting cold symptoms. Of course, attention must also be paid to dietary management, as the digestive function decreases during a cold. Therefore, it is advisable to eat small, frequent meals and avoid foods that are hard to digest or likely to cause allergies, in order to not exacerbate the child's symptoms. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)
Does the umbilical hernia belt work for infants?
Infant umbilical hernia occurs due to a thin abdominal wall around the navel, caused by insufficient prenatal development. When a child cries intensely or has increased gas in the gastrointestinal tract, which raises the abdominal pressure, the navel may bulge out, forming an umbilical hernia. It does not require special treatment, and using a hernia belt is ineffective and may even cause local damage and physiological discomfort in the child, thus it is not necessary to use one. Generally, it is sufficient to prevent long periods of intense crying in the child, actively prevent and treat diseases of the child’s digestive system, and avoid increased abdominal pressure to prevent recurrent navel bulging. Over 80% of children will see the hernia ring gradually narrow and even close naturally before the age of two as their physical development matures. Only a small portion of children who still have a noticeable umbilical hernia after two years, or whose hernia ring diameter is greater than two centimeters, might need to consider surgical treatment.
Newborn jaundice should visit which department?
Which department to visit for neonatal jaundice depends on the child's specific situation and the departments available in the hospital. For hospitals with only a general pediatrics department, it is advisable to visit the pediatric outpatient clinic during normal working hours and the pediatric emergency department during non-working hours such as noon, evenings, weekends, and holidays. In specialized children's hospitals, if the jaundice is in a preterm infant, then the preterm infant clinic should be visited. If it is a normal full-term infant, a visit to the neonatology outpatient clinic is generally sufficient. However, if there is a suspicion that the baby's jaundice might be caused by surgical factors, such as congenital biliary atresia or choledochal cyst, then a visit to the hepatobiliary surgery clinic is advised.
Newborn jaundice should see which department?
If a newborn has severe jaundice, it is important to consider the type of hospital you visit. If you go to a specialized children's hospital or a larger tertiary hospital with a pediatric department, there are generally specific outpatient services for newborns where you can seek treatment either at the newborn specialty clinic or at the general pediatric outpatient clinic. If it is outside of regular working hours, such as at noon, in the evening, on weekends, or during public holidays, it is usually appropriate to visit the pediatric emergency department. If you go to a smaller scale hospital, or a clinic or health center, you should see a pediatrician if one is available; if not, you should see an internal medicine doctor. Regardless of the situation or which hospital or doctor you visit, if the newborn's jaundice progressively worsens, it is advisable to seek medical attention at a larger hospital for examination and treatment.
How to physically reduce a baby's fever when they have a cold
There are several common methods for physically reducing fever in infants. The most commonly used method with the least side effects is using fever-reducing patches, typically applied to the baby's forehead, neck, and other areas, which are quite effective. Secondly, you can give the baby a wipe bath with warm water, focusing on areas with abundant capillaries and large blood vessels such as the neck, armpits, groin, and behind the knees. The third method involves giving the baby a warm bath, which helps dilate the capillaries on the baby's skin surface to achieve the effect of heat dissipation. However, it is important to keep warm during the bath to prevent catching a cold, and the bathing time should generally not exceed ten minutes. Additionally, appropriately hydrating the baby to prevent dehydration can enhance the cooling effect of the above methods.