Can infant umbilical hernia be cured?

Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
Updated on April 06, 2025
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Infant umbilical hernia is caused due to the weak abdominal wall around the navel and inadequate prenatal development. About 80% of infant umbilical hernias will gradually decrease and close as the child grows older and their physique develops. During this period, it is sufficient to avoid increased abdominal pressure, typically by preventing prolonged and intense crying in the child, and by actively treating gastrointestinal diseases that increase gas and abdominal pressure. Previously, children were often treated using umbilical hernia belts; however, there is now scientific evidence showing these are ineffective. Conversely, improper use of an umbilical hernia belt can cause damage to the child's abdominal skin. If the child's hernia has not healed by age two, or if the hernia ring is larger than 2 cm in diameter, surgical treatment may be necessary.

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Written by Dong Xian Yan
Pediatrics
48sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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What impact does an umbilical hernia have on a baby?

Umbilical hernia mainly manifests in children as a bulge at the belly button, primarily containing small intestine. If an umbilical hernia is not treated in a timely manner, it may gradually enlarge when the child cries or when intra-abdominal pressure increases, leading to more of the small intestine protruding outside of the abdominal cavity. This can potentially cause localized intestinal obstruction, impacting the child's intestinal absorption capabilities and leading to weight loss. If a significant portion of the intestine protrudes and becomes incarcerated, it could cause intestinal obstruction or necrosis, necessitating surgical removal of the necrotic intestine in a hospital.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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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.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Can an umbilical hernia be pressed with hands?

Umbilical hernia can be manually reduced by pushing it back into place. For children, most can be reduced by manual manipulation. For adults, it may be relatively more difficult, but generally, if incarceration has not occurred, manual reduction can be successful. In the treatment of umbilical hernia, conservative observation can be considered for children under two years old. The method of using adhesive tape may be employed since the self-healing can occur through their natural development before the age of two with appropriate conservative treatment. If the diameter of the umbilical ring still exceeds 1.5 cm after two years old, surgical intervention should be considered timely. For adults, umbilical hernias are generally treated through surgical means. Adult umbilical hernias are prone to incarceration and strangulation, particularly because the umbilical ring is usually smaller and a sudden increase in abdominal pressure can lead to incarceration. The treatment choices for adult umbilical hernia include tissue repair suturing or tension-free hernia repair, with laparoscopy also being a viable treatment option.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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How long does it take for an infant umbilical hernia to heal?

Infant umbilical hernia is caused by congenital weakness of the umbilical and abdominal regions, resulting in protrusion of the navel. Generally, it does not require special treatment. This is because up to 80% of infant umbilical hernias will gradually decrease in size as the child ages and physically develops, and the hernial ring may even close, thereby healing naturally. Surgery is usually chosen only if the diameter of the hernia ring is too large, especially if it is more than 2 cm, or if the child is over two years old and still has a noticeable umbilical hernia. Before this, it is usually advisable to avoid situations that could increase abdominal pressure in the child, such as preventing prolonged and intense crying. If the child has gastrointestinal symptoms, they should be treated promptly and actively to prevent repeated protrusion of the umbilical hernia.