Is umbilical hernia hereditary?

Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
Updated on April 11, 2025
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
56sec home-news-image

Does an umbilical hernia hurt?

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
1min 8sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
1min home-news-image

"Measures for handling umbilical hernia in infants"

Infant umbilical hernia occurs due to a weak abdominal wall in the navel area and incomplete prenatal development. It generally poses no significant harm, but measures should be taken to prevent frequent protrusion of the hernia. It is usually advisable to avoid excessive crying and prolonged episodes of crying in children, and to actively prevent and treat digestive system diseases in children to reduce the chance of increased gas in the gastrointestinal tract and increased abdominal pressure, which can lead to protrusion of the navel and discomfort for the child. Therefore, in over 80% of children with umbilical hernias, the hernia ring will gradually narrow and shrink as the child grows and develops physically, achieving healing by the age of two. Only less than 20% of children, particularly those with a hernia ring diameter greater than 2cm, or who clearly have an umbilical hernia at the age of two, will require surgical treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
44sec home-news-image

Will infant umbilical hernia gradually improve?

Umbilical hernias in infants are very likely to heal naturally, as more than 80% of infantile umbilical hernias will gradually reduce in size and possibly even close as the child grows older and their physique develops. Normally, it is only necessary to ensure that the child does not cry intensely for long periods, to promptly treat any digestive system disorders in the child to prevent increased abdominal pressure which can cause frequent protrusion of the hernia and affect its healing. Only a small portion of children require surgical treatment, usually those with a relatively large hernia ring diameter, especially those larger than 2 cm, and children over two years old who still have a very obvious umbilical hernia.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
51sec home-news-image

Can an umbilical hernia be treated with a belly button patch?

Umbilical hernia refers to the protrusion of abdominal contents through the umbilical ring, commonly seen in infants and young children. Most of these hernias are reducible and incarceration is rare. The majority of umbilical hernias can heal on their own within the first year through gradual contraction of the umbilical fascial ring. Therefore, unless incarceration occurs, non-surgical treatment aimed at promoting healing, such as the use of umbilical patches and hernia belts, can be adopted before the age of two. However, since infants and young children have delicate skin, it is important to monitor for any skin allergies. If the child is older than two years and the diameter of the umbilical hernia exceeds 1.5 cm, surgical treatment should be considered.