The difference between umbilical hernia and umbilical protrusion

Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
Updated on September 06, 2024
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Umbilical hernia refers to a condition in children where the umbilical ring does not close during development, causing a defect in the abdominal wall. This situation can be treated conservatively. Within half a year, the effects are generally good. You can choose a coin larger than the umbilical ring or cover it with a flat board, press it against the umbilical ring, and then use adhesive tape to fix it to prevent movement. Generally, most patients can heal on their own. If the diameter of the umbilical ring still exceeds 1.5 cm after two years old, it is advisable to actively accept surgical treatment. Moreover, the protrusion may not involve a defect in the abdominal wall but a potential weakness in the abdominal wall at the navel. Under conditions of increased abdominal pressure, there can be a protruding appearance at the navel. The biggest difference from an umbilical hernia might be that the umbilical protrusion might present a lump that does not completely disappear. In the case of an umbilical hernia, if the contents can be returned to the abdominal cavity, the hernia can disappear completely.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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Does infant umbilical hernia need to be treated?

Over 80% of infant umbilical hernias can heal before the age of two because, as the child grows older, the abdominal muscles gradually develop. The umbilical ring often progressively narrows and closes, so no treatment is actually needed. However, it is usually advisable to prevent the child from crying excessively and to treat any gastroenteric colds and indigestion actively and effectively, to avoid repetitive protrusion of the hernia. If the child still has a noticeable umbilical hernia after the age of two, or if the diameter of the hernia ring exceeds 2cm, it is usually difficult to heal naturally. Surgery might be required, typically involving the removal of the hernia sac and repair of the abdominal wall defect.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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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.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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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.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Is umbilical hernia hereditary?

Umbilical hernia is not a hereditary disease and generally does not occur genetically. Umbilical hernia is due to the incomplete healing of the umbilical ring, causing the abdominal organs to protrude through the umbilical ring, and is a congenital disease. Developmental inadequacies of the navel, or the presence of scar tissue, thinness, and lack of toughness in the navel area can lead to this condition when abdominal pressure increases. In general, children with an umbilical hernia may show discomfort, which can manifest as frequent crying or constipation. For most cases of umbilical hernia, conservative treatment is an option. In children under two years old, surgery can be avoided by using adhesive tape treatment, which can achieve very good therapeutic effects. If the diameter of the umbilical ring is still greater than 1.5 cm after the age of two, timely surgery is necessary. For adults with umbilical hernia, incarceration and strangulation are common, and surgery is recommended as soon as a clear diagnosis is made.

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Written by Dong Xian Yan
Pediatrics
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Why does the baby's umbilical hernia make a sound when pressed?

When pressing on a baby's umbilical hernia, a sound may be heard, primarily because the contents of the hernia are the intestines, most commonly the small intestine. Digestive fluids and gases are present in the intestines, so when pressed, the movement of gas through the digestive fluid can easily produce a sound, which is normal. The occurrence of an umbilical hernia in babies is mainly due to the incomplete development of the abdominal wall muscles and the umbilical ring not being fully closed. This allows internal organs like the intestines and mesentery to protrude through the umbilical ring, leading to symptoms of an umbilical hernia. After the appearance of an umbilical hernia, most children's hernias close on their own within the first year, with only a minority requiring surgical treatment.