"Measures for handling umbilical hernia in infants"

Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
Updated on May 03, 2025
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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.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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How long will it take for an umbilical hernia to heal?

Umbilical hernia can heal on its own, generally, if the appropriate treatment method is chosen, most umbilical hernias can heal within six months. For children over two years old, if the umbilical hernia has not healed and the diameter of the umbilical ring exceeds 1.5 cm, active surgical treatment is also chosen. For children over five years old, surgical treatment is recommended regardless of the situation. Umbilical hernia occurs because the umbilical ring does not close in time during the child's development, causing the abdomen to protrude. The common treatment method is to choose a coin or cardboard larger than the umbilical ring, wrap it up, press against the umbilical ring, and fix it with adhesive tape to prevent it from moving. This treatment method generally works well and can avoid surgery. However, during the observation process, it is necessary to avoid the occurrence of incarceration or rupture of the hernia.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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Treatment methods for infant umbilical hernia

Infant umbilical hernia is caused by a congenital weak abdominal wall around the navel, leading to protrusion. It generally does not require special treatment methods. As long as care is taken to avoid the child's intense or prolonged crying, actively treat gastrointestinal diseases to prevent increased abdominal pressure that could lead to protrusion, no special treatment is usually necessary. This is because 80% of children with umbilical hernias will see their hernia rings gradually shrink or even close as they grow older, typically by the age of two. Surgical treatment might only be needed if the hernia ring is very large, such as more than two centimeters in diameter, or if the obvious umbilical hernia persists after the age of two.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Early symptoms and manifestations of umbilical hernia

Umbilical hernia is a common umbilical disease, characterized by the hernial sac protruding through the umbilical ring. This condition has a higher incidence rate in infants. As infants grow older, most cases can be resolved, but a few children may require surgical intervention. Early signs of umbilical hernia include a soft bulge and protrusion at the navel. The protrusion at the umbilical area may increase when the infant cries, coughs, defecates, or struggles due to increased abdominal pressure, and it can decrease or disappear when the infant is calm and asleep. However, if the child experiences severe abdominal pain or vomiting, this could be an indication of incarcerated umbilical hernia, and it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Can you run with an umbilical hernia?

Patients with umbilical hernias are generally advised against engaging in vigorous activities such as running and jumping. This is because an umbilical hernia is a type of hernia that can lead to incarceration or even rupture due to sudden increases in abdominal pressure, which would require emergency surgery. For umbilical hernias, conservative treatment is mostly adopted. Typically, affected children can self-heal within six months through conservative treatment. However, if the condition persists beyond the age of two and the diameter of the umbilical ring is still greater than 1.5 cm, surgical treatment is recommended. If the patient is over the age of five, it is advised to undergo surgery as soon as possible, regardless of the circumstances. Both before and after the surgery for an umbilical hernia, vigorous activities are not recommended. Intense activities increase abdominal pressure, which on one hand can lead to complications like incarceration, and on the other hand, can affect the outcome of the surgical treatment.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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How does an umbilical hernia gradually improve?

Umbilical hernia refers to a protrusion formed by abdominal contents through the weak area of the umbilicus. After the umbilical cord falls off in the neonatal period, the umbilical scar area, due to the phase when the umbilical cord passes through the abdominal wall during fetal life, creates a congenital separation in the abdominal wall. In infancy, the abdominal muscles on either side do not completely close at the midline, leaving a defect and forming the umbilical ring. When crying, coughing, or struggling increases intra-abdominal pressure, the abdominal contents gradually push outwards through the umbilicus, forming an umbilical hernia. Most umbilical hernias can heal on their own within one year through the contraction of the umbilical fascial ring. Therefore, unless incarceration occurs, observation and waiting with non-surgical treatment can be adopted to promote healing before the age of two.