A hernia is a condition that is usually associated with adults. However, did you know that hernia in babies can also happen?
What Is Hernia
A hernia is a condition that occurs when an internal part of your body protrudes through a weak spot in the muscle or tissue that normally holds it in place.
Hernias are common, but they can be painful and difficult to treat. Hernias can occur anywhere in the body, but are most common around the groin area and near the belly button.
What Causes Hernia
Hernias are a relatively common problem, and they can be painful. However, there are many causes of hernias. Hernias can develop in the chest, abdomen, groin or scrotal areas. In men, they often occur near the testicles.
There are many factors that can contribute to the development of a hernia:
- Aging: As you age, your connective tissue becomes weaker and more prone to developing a hernia.
- Obesity: When you are overweight or obese, your abdominal wall becomes weaker and more likely to tear when it is under pressure.
- Heavy Lifting: Heavy lifting can put an enormous amount of pressure on your abdominal wall and cause it to rupture.
- Physical Activity: Any type of physical activity that puts pressure on your abdomen can lead to a hernia forming in that area of your body.
What Causes Hernia in Babies
Hernias in babies can be broken down into two categories: congenital and acquired.
Congenital hernias are present from birth, and are often present from conception. This means that the baby was born with the hernia, but did not have symptoms until later on in life. Acquired hernias are those that develop over time, usually due to straining or other causes of trauma.
Common Types of Hernia in Babies
The most common types of hernias include inguinal (a gap in the abdominal wall), femoral (a gap in the groin), umbilical (a gap in the belly button), and hiatal (a gap between your diaphragm and esophagus).
Inguinal Hernia
An inguinal hernia is when a part of your intestines or fat push through a weak spot in your abdominal wall. This happens most often around your groin, where the inguinal canal is located.
This can happen if you’ve had a lot of surgery on your abdomen, or if you have a birth defect like an undescended testicle (one that hasn’t moved into the scrotum). It can also happen if you have a lot of lifting or straining at work, if you’ve gained weight quickly and consistently over time, or if you’re pregnant.
If it’s not treated, an inguinal hernia can get worse over time and lead to infections or other problems with your organs.
Image Source: Shutterstock
Femoral Hernia
Femoral hernias are uncommon in babies, but they do happen.
A femoral hernia is a condition in which an opening forms in the groin area and allows the bowel to protrude into the abdominal cavity. Femoral hernias are most common in older adults, but they can also develop in infants and children.
Femoral hernias are generally easy to diagnose with a physical exam, but they require surgery to repair them. This procedure should be performed by an experienced surgeon with specialized training in pediatric surgery.
Umbilical Hernia
Umbilical hernias are a common condition in babies, especially in newborns. It most often occurs when the abdominal wall muscles of the baby are not fully developed. Babies can develop an umbilical hernia when they are born because their abdominal wall muscles are still developing.
When an infant has a hernia, it is usually small and does not hurt much. The main symptom of this condition is swelling in the abdomen near where the umbilicus (belly button) would be located in an adult. Sometimes, this swelling can make it difficult for you to see your baby’s belly button clearly.
The risk of complications from umbilical hernias depends on their size and whether or not they become infected. If your baby has a large umbilical hernia that causes discomfort or other symptoms, then surgery may be recommended to repair it before it becomes too large to fix easily or safely without surgery.
Image Source: iStock
Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal hernia is a condition in which the stomach pushes through the diaphragm, the muscle that separates your chest cavity from your abdominal cavity. This can allow stomach contents to move up into your chest and oesophagus.
A baby with hiatal hernia may have symptoms such as:
- Colic, which is when a baby cries for long periods of time without any obvious reason (colic typically begins within the first 2 weeks of life)
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is when stomach acid backs up into the oesophagus (the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach)
- Regurgitation, which is when food or liquid comes back up from the oesophagus into the mouth
- Gastrointestinal problems including vomiting and diarrhoea.
Symptoms of Hernia in Babies
Here are the symptoms of hernia in babies:
- Baby cries when you touch the area around the belly button
- Inability to pass gas
- Bloated abdomen
- Swollen belly button or umbilical cord
- Tenderness or discomfort in the area around the belly button
How Serious Is a Hernia in Babies
A hernia is a bulge that forms in the tissue where organs meet to create a weak spot. The most common place for a hernia to form is in the abdomen, and this is called an umbilical hernia.
Your baby’s umbilical cord connects the placenta with your baby’s blood supply. When it falls off, there may be some leftover scar tissue that can create an opening between your baby’s abdomen and his or her umbilical cord. This opening allows part of your baby’s intestine to move through it into the area around the belly button.
This is not usually a cause for alarm, but if you notice any swelling or discomfort around your baby’s belly button, you should schedule an appointment with your paediatrician right away.
Hernia in Babies: What Mums and Dads Need to Know
A mum shared her son’s painful experience with a hernia.
One mum shared the story of how her son, who was only one year and two months old, suffered from a painful hernia.
The mum was bathing her son when she noticed a small, almost imperceptible lump near his groin. She didn’t mind it at first since her son didn’t show any symptoms or pain.
However, she was surprised to find that it suddenly grew larger! At this point, her son was in a lot of pain and was crying, so she decided to take him to a doctor to get it looked at.
According to the doctor, her son’s condition was a type of hernia in babies called an inguinal hernia, and they had to operate in order to get it fixed.
She shared that prior to the operation, she was advised to not give her son any food or drink for six hours. The operation was a success, and it only took about 30 to 45 minutes.
Thankfully, the mum’s quick thinking and decisiveness saved her son from more potential pain.
How Can Hernia in Babies Be Treated?
For the most part, umbilical hernias go away after a while without any treatment. The condition can cause some pain and discomfort. If this is the case with your child, take him to the doctor.
In some cases, if the hole is particularly large, then the doctor might recommend surgery when the child grows a bit older.
Inguinal hernias, on the other hand, require surgery, as in the case above. Inguinal hernias don’t go away on their own, so doctors will need to operate in order to fix it.
There’s no need for mums and dads to worry about the operation since it’s a straightforward and fairly common procedure.
The most important thing to note is that you need to be able to notice the signs of a hernia. It usually manifests as a bulge that appears and reappears and can cause pain for your newborn, particularly when touched.
Knowing the signs early on can help save your child from a lot of pain in the future.
Updates from Pheona Ilagan
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