Are hernias difficult to diagnose?

Hernias are a common ailment among Americans; more than 4 million people develop the painful condition. And although both men and women develop hernias, female patients may be harder to diagnose. Doctors and patients may not realize the abdominal pain a woman is feeling is because of a hernia.

How is a hernia diagnosed in babies?

To diagnose a hernia, your child’s healthcare provider will do a physical exam. They will check if the hernia can be pushed back into the abdomen (reducible).

Can a hernia be undetected?

Unlike other types of hernias, which develop immediately below layers of fat, spigelian hernias occur in the midst of abdominal muscles. This means that spigelian hernias may not be immediately visible as a bulge or lump. They can go undetected for longer periods of time.

How serious is a hernia in a baby?

In many cases, hernias aren’t dangerous. As long as the hernia can move back into the abdomen, it’s usually not a problem. But if the bowel becomes stuck in the weak spot (strangulated), the problem becomes more serious. The abdominal muscle squeezes the bowel, causing swelling.

How is a hernia treated in babies?

Umbilical Hernia Treatment Surgery to repair an umbilical hernia in patients of any age involves a small incision beneath the belly button. The surgeon pushes the contents of the hernia sac back into the abdomen and stitches or uses surgical mesh to close the hole.

What happens if a baby has a hernia?

When your child has an inguinal hernia, you can usually see a bulge in the groin or scrotum. The bulge will typically come and go. It may get bigger after your child is straining or crying. It may go away or get smaller during the night while your child is asleep or relaxed.

Is hernia painful for babies?

The hernia isn’t painful and most don’t cause any problems. Most umbilical (um-BILL-ih-kul) hernias close on their own by the time the child turns 4 or 5. If a hernia doesn’t go away by then or causes problems, doctors may recommend surgery.

Do baby hernias go away?

It’s a fairly common condition among infants. In most cases, these hernias don’t cause any problems, and they often go away on their own over time. In some circumstances, surgery may be necessary to correct an umbilical hernia. Rarely, umbilical hernias can cause complications that require emergency medical care.

How can you tell if your child has a hernia?

Hernias in children are often detected during the regular pediatric checkup. The parents can even notice a lump while changing a diaper or bathing the baby. The bulge that appears when the baby is straining, crying or coughing also indicates a hernia.

When to diagnose inguinal hernia in an infant?

Attempts have been made to correlate the age at diagnosis, the duration between diagnosis and hernia repair, and infants’ gestational age with risk of inguinal hernia incarceration.

What are the different types of hernia in children?

There are three types of hernia in children depending on the location -. Inguinal Hernia: An inguinal hernia happens when part of the intestine protrude through the abdominal wall in the groin area. Causes of Inguinal Hernia: In boys, an inguinal hernia related to the development and descent of the testes.

What are the symptoms of an umbilical hernia in a baby?

Symptoms include: Pain around the bellybutton area Swelling in the area Discoloration of the bellybutton area