Subscribe
Umbilical hernia
How to treat umbilical hernia with conservative treatment?
Umbilical hernia in children is a common condition involving the navel area, caused by incomplete development there, allowing intestinal contents to protrude through this weak spot, thus forming an umbilical hernia. The vast majority of umbilical hernias can heal on their own, so conservative treatment is possible, meaning it is okay to just watch and wait. Most children's weak spots in the navel will heal by the age of two, and the hernia will resolve itself. Only a very small number of cases, where the hernia is particularly large or has not healed by the age of two, require surgical treatment. Parents must be clear about this. Therefore, there is no need for special treatment, just observation. It's only necessary to avoid letting the child cry loudly, which can increase abdominal pressure.
Does an infant umbilical hernia require surgery?
Umbilical hernias in infants do not always require surgery; only a small portion necessitates it. Surgery is needed mainly if the child is over two years old and still has a noticeable umbilical hernia, or if the hernia's ring diameter exceeds 2 cm. In these cases, the chances of natural healing are slim, and surgical intervention to remove the hernia sac and repair the abdominal wall defect may be necessary. In other cases, 80% of umbilical hernias can heal by the age of two as the abdominal muscles strengthen and develop with age, often causing the hernia ring to narrow and close on its own, achieving healing without any additional treatment. The previously used method of compressing the hernia with a hernia belt has been proven ineffective and is no longer employed.
The difference between infant umbilical hernia and hernia
Infant umbilical hernia is a type of hernia, which differs from general hernias as the latter encompasses a broader category including umbilical hernia, direct inguinal hernia, indirect inguinal hernia, etc. Infant umbilical hernia is caused by a congenital weakness in the abdominal wall at the navel, leading to a protrusion. Similarly, hernias are often the result of insufficient developmental thickness of the abdominal wall. Thus, when intra-abdominal pressure increases, contents such as the intestine can protrude through the hernia sac, forming a hernia. Regardless of the type, whether umbilical or otherwise, it is essential to visit a pediatric surgical department in a hospital for examination and analysis. Most umbilical hernias close as the child grows and the hernial ring narrows, usually by the age of two, and often do not require special treatment. However, surgical treatment may be necessary for a small portion of cases where the diameter of the hernial ring is larger than two centimeters or has not closed after the age of two. For hernias in other locations, if incarceration occurs, emergency surgery is needed, and surgery may still be required if the condition does not resolve spontaneously.
Can an umbilical hernia cause a baby to cry?
Umbilical hernia can cause babies to cry because it might lead to incarceration, although the chance of this occurring is generally low. It is more likely to happen when there's a sudden increase in abdominal pressure in children. In cases of incarceration, if it involves the small intestine, it can cause the child to experience abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, etc. Therefore, the baby may cry. Crying might also aggravate the incidence of incarceration. So, for umbilical hernias with noticeable protrusion, it is important to soothe the patient promptly and avoid vigorous activities. One can use a coin or cardboard larger than the umbilical ring, cover it, hold it against the ring and secure it with adhesive tape to prevent it from moving and the hernia from protruding. This method can generally be used until the child is two years old, because umbilical hernias in children can heal by themselves before this age. If the umbilical ring is still relatively large after two years, timely surgical treatment should be considered.
Will an umbilical hernia hurt?
Umbilical hernia can cause pain, especially during incarceration and strangulation. Generally, umbilical hernias are caused by factors such as pregnancy, excessive omental fat, chronic coughing, and severe constipation. A sudden increase in abdominal pressure may lead to the incarceration of the omentum or intestines, causing significant pain and hardening of the hernial mass. In such cases, emergency surgery may be necessary. For adults, traditional tissue repair or open tension-free hernia repair is generally chosen, while minimally invasive treatment options may be selected for specific groups. In children, umbilical hernias are typically observed conservatively, and if the umbilical ring remains larger than 1.5cm after the age of two, surgery should be considered.
How many months can an infant umbilical hernia heal?
Umbilical hernia in infants is caused by congenital development of the umbilical area and weak abdominal muscles, leading to protrusion of the umbilicus. This protrusion is more likely to occur when the child cries intensely, has digestive issues, or experiences increased pressure in the gastrointestinal tract. The majority of umbilical hernias heal on their own as the child ages; small hernial rings may heal within a few months, and about 80% of slightly larger hernias heal by the age of two. However, a small number of children with umbilical hernias, especially those with a hernial ring diameter greater than 2 cm, usually cannot heal on their own. Generally, if a noticeable umbilical hernia still exists after the age of two, surgical treatment may be necessary, though no special treatment is typically needed before that.
Can an infant umbilical hernia cause crying?
Infant umbilical hernia is caused by a congenital weakness in the umbilicus, usually manifesting as an umbilical bulge during increased abdominal pressure. Generally, an umbilical hernia does not cause children to cry. However, if the hernia ring is relatively large, and abdominal structures such as the greater omentum or small intestine protrude through it, incarceration can occur, leading to abdominal discomfort and crying in the child. In such cases, carefully pushing the hernia back in is usually sufficient. Umbilical hernias typically do not require special treatment; it is only necessary to prevent prolonged intense crying in children and to actively prevent and treat indigestive diseases. Generally, as the child grows older and their physique strengthens, the hernia ring narrows and may even close naturally. Only a small number of babies, if the hernia ring diameter is larger than 2 cm, or if there is a noticeable umbilical hernia after the age of two, might experience discomfort requiring surgical treatment.
What should be paid attention to after umbilical hernia surgery?
Umbilical hernia refers to the protrusion of abdominal contents through the umbilical ring. Mostly seen in infants and young children, a majority of umbilical hernias can gradually heal through the contraction of the umbilical fascial ring. Therefore, before the age of two, except in cases of incarcerated hernias, most are treated non-surgically to promote healing. If the child is over two years old and the diameter of the hernia exceeds 1.5 cm, surgical treatment is adopted. After surgery, it is necessary to persist with abdominal muscle exercises to increase the child's resistance, prevent an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, reduce the recurrence of infantile umbilical hernias, and in terms of diet, it is advisable to avoid foods that might cause constipation.
Is an umbilical hernia in infants serious?
Infant umbilical hernia is caused by a weak abdominal wall around the navel, which is underdeveloped, leading to protrusion. This is prone to happen when intra-abdominal pressure is high. Therefore, it's usually sufficient to avoid intense crying in children and actively treat gastrointestinal diseases without special treatment. This is because 80% of infants will naturally see the hernia ring narrow, or even close by itself by the age of two, leading to healing. Only a few children, if the hernia ring diameter is large, more than 2 cm, or if the umbilical hernia is still evident after the child turns two, will require surgical treatment.
What are good remedies for infant umbilical hernia?
Umbilical hernia in infants is caused by congenital underdevelopment of the abdominal muscles, forming a bulge beneath the skin due to abdominal distension protruding from the umbilicus. In fact, it usually does not require special treatment. Most umbilical hernias will gradually narrow and shrink within the first year after birth as the infant's nutrition and physique improve and the abdominal muscles develop, typically leading to natural closure with a very good prognosis. In daily care, it is important to prevent the child from crying loudly, especially when the child has gastrointestinal diseases and increased intestinal gas, which should be actively treated to minimize the herniation and to reduce it back when it does protrude. With such care, the chances of natural healing increase. However, if the child is over four years old and the hernia sac is still relatively large, surgical repair might be necessary.