Does an umbilical hernia hurt?

Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
Updated on September 19, 2024
00:00
00:00

Umbilical hernias can be painful because they may become incarcerated or even rupture. An umbilical hernia occurs when the area has not completely closed, allowing abdominal organs, such as the omentum or intestines, to enter the hernia sac. If incarceration persists for an extended period, it can cause localized pain and even symptoms of nausea and vomiting. For umbilical hernias, we generally advocate conservative treatment within the first six months, as most patients can heal on their own. If the diameter of the umbilical ring is still greater than 1.5 cm after the age of two, we recommend surgical treatment. The conservative treatment for umbilical hernia involves using a coin or a flat board, larger than the umbilical ring, wrapped and pressed against the ring, and then secured with wide adhesive tape. This method can prevent the hernia from protruding and promote healing.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Li
Pediatrics
52sec home-news-image

Can an umbilical hernia cause colic in babies?

In general normal circumstances, children with umbilical hernias are unlikely to experience symptoms of intestinal colic. This is because the protrusion from the umbilical hernia is not very large, so the likelihood of causing intestinal colic is very low. Parents should not be overly worried about umbilical hernias causing intestinal colic. However, in some cases where the symptoms of umbilical hernia in babies are more noticeable, it is still necessary to seek active and timely treatment. A color Doppler ultrasound or a routine blood test can be conducted. Conservative treatment can also be considered; if conservative treatment is not very effective, then surgical treatment may be considered.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
1min 3sec home-news-image

Why has the umbilical hernia become hard?

If the umbilical hernia becomes hard, it may indicate that it has become incarcerated. In such cases, vigorous activities should be avoided and one should rest appropriately or try to manually reduce the protruding hernia sac back into the abdominal cavity. In this situation, close observation is needed to check for intestinal necrosis or even rupture of the hernia. Generally, for umbilical hernias, most children can heal naturally within two years, particularly within the first six months if conservative treatment is chosen. One can use a coin or a piece of paper larger than the umbilical ring, wrap it around, press it against the umbilical ring, and then secure it with adhesive tape to prevent movement, which generally leads to healing within six months. If the umbilical ring still has a diameter greater than 1.5 cm after two years, surgical treatment is recommended as early as possible. If the child is over five years old and the umbilical hernia has not healed, timely surgical intervention should be chosen.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
39sec home-news-image

Will an umbilical hernia cause abdominal pain?

Umbilical hernia may cause stomach pain. This is possible because an umbilical hernia occurs when the intestines push through a weak spot in the belly button area due to pressure. In most cases, it is the small intestine that protrudes through the hernia. If a large portion of the small intestine protrudes, it can lead to kinking and potentially cause an obstruction of the small intestine. Once the small intestine is obstructed, it can lead to abdominal pain, and may also be accompanied by bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Thus, in cases where the small intestine is kinked, it is possible for an umbilical hernia to cause stomach pain.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
50sec home-news-image

Is there no belly button after umbilical hernia surgery?

Umbilical hernia refers to a protrusion formed by abdominal cavity contents through the umbilical ring, commonly seen in infants and young children. Most umbilical hernias can heal on their own within the first year as the umbilical fascial ring gradually contracts. Therefore, non-surgical treatment is mostly adopted to promote healing. However, if the child is over two years old and the diameter of the umbilical hernia exceeds 1.5 centimeters, surgical treatment is recommended. After umbilical hernia surgery, the belly button is still preserved. The surgery generally involves making a small incision at the lower edge of the navel, freeing the hernial sac, repositioning the hernial contents, and after partially excising the hernial sac at the umbilical ring, suturing is performed.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
33sec home-news-image

Will an infant's umbilical hernia heal by itself?

Infant umbilical hernia is a congenital disease, caused by a weak abdominal wall around the navel, leading to a protrusion at the navel. However, over 80% of infant umbilical hernias will, before the age of two, gradually heal as the hernial ring narrows and closes due to growth in age and physical development, achieving self-healing. Only a small portion require surgery. If an infant still has a noticeable umbilical hernia at the age of two, or if the hernial ring diameter is greater than 2 cm, then surgery is necessary.